A TURQUOISE MINIATURE PENDANT OF A THUNDERBOLT SCEPTRE China, presumably Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The turquoise of a beautiful bluish hue and natural, darker inclusion, carved in a simplistic form of miniature thunderbolt sceptre, vajra, - a ritual weapon symbolizing the indestructibility and irresistible force of it’s holder. The Vajra is an inseparable symbol of a Vajrayana, one of the three major schools of Buddhism. Central drilling showing ancient toolmarks.

Publication: This lot will be catalogued in the book about the turquoise collection of Dr. Zelnik which is expected to be published in 2022.
Condition: Good condition with some age-related wear and minor material losses.
Provenance: The collection of The Zelnik István Southeast Asian Gold Museum. Institutional art collection in Belgium, acquired from the above. Dr. István Zelnik, President of the Hungarian South and Southeast Asian Research Institute, is a former high-ranking Hungarian diplomat who spent several decades in Southeast Asia, building the largest known private collection of Asian art in Europe.

Weight: 5.5 g
Dimensions: 3.5 cm