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Metal and Stone Vestiges
Religion, Magic and Protection in the Art of Ancient Tibet

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These probable pre-Buddhist deer figurines were fabricated as three-dimensional objects with both horns and all four legs. They were molded with prominent loopholes for display on the body. Between the horns of both specimens is a crown of three gems, clearly indicating that these are not ordinary animals but sacred or divine cervine variants.

all text & images © John Vincent Bellezza


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