Unknown
Ritual Implements for a Fire Ceremony18th century or earlier

Not on view

Two worn wooden paddle-shaped ritual objects displayed side by side, one plain with an iron rod and recessed bowl, the other with brass finials, inlaid stones, and ornate metal fittings

Two wooden mold halves with worn reddish-pink surfaces and carved interior channels, shown open and assembled, alongside a small metal ladle with orange and green stone insets and a pointed handle. The assembled half features metal fittings with finial-topped rods and an inlaid square panel with applied metalwork and cabochon stones.

Artist or Maker: Unknown
Title: Ritual Implements for a Fire Ceremony
Place Made: Tibet or Nepal
Date Made: 18th century or earlier
Medium: Steel, gilt copper, and silver; inlaid with coral and turquoise; wood case
Dimensions: Ladle (assembled): 28 1/8 x 4 1/4 x 1 1/2 in. (71.44 x 10.8 x 3.81 cm); Spoon (assembled): 22 3/4 x 2 5/8 x 1 1/2 in. (57.79 x 6.67 x 3.81 cm); Case: 20 1/2 x 5 3/8 x 2 3/4 in. (52.07 x 13.65 x 6.99 cm)
Credit Line: Christian Humann Asian Art Fund
Accession Number: M.86.190.1a-g
Classification: Tools and Equipment
Collecting Area: South and Southeast Asian Art
Curatorial Notes: The sacrificial or votive ritual of offerings made to a consecrated fire (homa) is derived originally from Vedic (proto-Hindu) sacramental practices. It was later performed under Hindu and Buddhist auspices in the Himalayan regions. This set of ritual implements was used in a Buddhist context, as indicated by its five-pronged thunderbolt (vajra) finials. The set consists of a round ladle to pour the oblations and a square receptacle with a circular bowl to receive them. The interior of the receptacle bowl has a triangular (trikona) geometrical mandala (yantra) that is the visual equivalent of a mystical prayer (mantra). Both implements have long handles made in two parts that when separated all fit inside the single wooden carrying case.
Selected Bibliography: Pal, Pratapaditya. Art of Tibet. Expanded edition. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1990.
Little, Stephen, Tushara Bindu Gude, Karina Romero Blanco, Silvia Seligson, Marco Antonio Karam. Las Huellas de Buda. Ciudad de México : Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, 2018.
Little, Stephen, and Tushara Bindu Gude. Realms of the Dharma: Buddhist Art across Asia. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2025.

Unknown
Ritual Implements for a Fire Ceremony18th century or earlier

Not on view

Artist or Maker: Unknown
Title: Ritual Implements for a Fire Ceremony
Place Made: Tibet or Nepal
Date Made: 18th century or earlier
Medium: Steel, gilt copper, and silver; inlaid with coral and turquoise; wood case
Dimensions: Ladle (assembled): 28 1/8 x 4 1/4 x 1 1/2 in. (71.44 x 10.8 x 3.81 cm); Spoon (assembled): 22 3/4 x 2 5/8 x 1 1/2 in. (57.79 x 6.67 x 3.81 cm); Case: 20 1/2 x 5 3/8 x 2 3/4 in. (52.07 x 13.65 x 6.99 cm)
Credit Line: Christian Humann Asian Art Fund
Accession Number: M.86.190.1a-g
Classification: Tools and Equipment
Collecting Area: South and Southeast Asian Art
Curatorial Notes: The sacrificial or votive ritual of offerings made to a consecrated fire (homa) is derived originally from Vedic (proto-Hindu) sacramental practices. It was later performed under Hindu and Buddhist auspices in the Himalayan regions. This set of ritual implements was used in a Buddhist context, as indicated by its five-pronged thunderbolt (vajra) finials. The set consists of a round ladle to pour the oblations and a square receptacle with a circular bowl to receive them. The interior of the receptacle bowl has a triangular (trikona) geometrical mandala (yantra) that is the visual equivalent of a mystical prayer (mantra). Both implements have long handles made in two parts that when separated all fit inside the single wooden carrying case.
Selected Bibliography: Pal, Pratapaditya. Art of Tibet. Expanded edition. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1990.
Little, Stephen, Tushara Bindu Gude, Karina Romero Blanco, Silvia Seligson, Marco Antonio Karam. Las Huellas de Buda. Ciudad de México : Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, 2018.
Little, Stephen, and Tushara Bindu Gude. Realms of the Dharma: Buddhist Art across Asia. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2025.