Lot 94: 18th C. Tibetan Gilt Ritual Scorpion-Form Sword Hilt, Symbol of Begtse Chen

Name: 18th C. Tibetan Gilt Ritual Scorpion-Form Sword Hilt, Symbol of Begtse Chen
Brand: Artemis Fine Arts
SKU: ef96485752
Price: 3500 USD

Est: $7,000 USD - $10,500 USDPassed

Artemis Fine ArtsLouisville, CO, USNovember 06, 2025

Item Overview

Description

Central Asia, Tibet, ca. 18th century CE. A rare and formidable Tibetan ritual sword handle of gilt brass, meticulously cast in the form of a flattened scorpion, its stylized body defined by pronounced segmented ridges and curving, beadlike limbs ending in powerful pincers. Each side of the head bears a small inset silver sphere, gleaming against the rich golden surface. This zoomorphic form is deeply charged with symbolic potency, representing the deadly yet protective weapon of Begtse Chen, the red-armored guardian deity of Tibetan Buddhism. The scorpion in Tibetan iconography embodies dual aspects: its venom signifies the destructive force of the deity, while its form also holds protective and healing associations. In Buddhist esoteric traditions, such scorpion-hilted weapons are wielded not only by Begtse Chen but also by certain manifestations of Pelden Lhamo, and are linked in legend to Padmasambhava, who entrusted these deities with the safeguarding of the Dalai Lama's lineage.
Size: 5.2" L x 3.1" W (13.2 cm x 7.9 cm)

Although the scorpion sword is first recorded in Tibetan textual sources of the 18th century, its imagery appears centuries earlier, notably in the hand of Lhamo on the inscribed 1292 stele of Mahakala, now in the Lionel Fournier collection. Tibetan tradition attributes an Indian origin to the form, with the scorpion known in Vedic literature and associated in Hindu mythology with the goddess Camunda. Yet the scorpion-hilted sword itself appears to be a distinctly Tibetan innovation.

It is likely that this handle once belonged to a ceremonial sword carried by a monk in the elaborate Cham dance, a masked ritual performance invoking deities for protection and blessings. A comparable complete example is preserved in the Triay Collection (Bazin et al., "Rituels tibetains: Visions secretes du Veme Dalai Lama," 2002, p. 146, no. 106), while a photographic record of a 1930s Cham dance shows a similarly armed performer (Tsultem, "Mongolian Sculpture," Ulan Batar, 1988).

PROVENANCE: ex-Farrow Fine Art, San Rafael, California, USA

A similar gilt copper alloy scorpion handle hammered $57,375 HKD (equivalent to $7,323.94 USD) at Bonhams Hong Kong on November 30, 2022 ("Images of Devotion," lot 1051).

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SHIPPING EXCEPTIONS: Due to customs clearance issues, we are unable to ship to Germany, Switzerland and Australia. If you live in Germany, Switzerland or Australia, you will need to provide an alternate shipping destination, or we will not be able to complete your purchase. In addition, please note that we are unable to ship ancient items back to the original country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.)

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Item # 196703

Condition Report

Fair. Some light surface wear as shown, but, otherwise, intact and excellent with impressive preservation of gilding.

Payment & Shipping

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Auction Details

Connoisseur's Delight | Ancient, Ethnographic, Fine Art

Artemis Fine Arts

November 06, 2025, 08:00 AM MST

686 S. Taylor Ave., #108, Louisville, CO, 80027, US

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Terms

Live bidding may start higher or lower

Buyer's Premium

$1 - 249,999:28.5%*

$250,000+:25.0%*

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$300	$999	$50
$1,000	$1,999	$100
$2,000	$4,999	$250
$5,000+		$500

Terms of Sale

Please read the following "Terms of Sale" carefully. Your submission of bids in this auction constitutes your acceptance.

1. PAYMENT POLICY: To provide a seamless bidder checkout, all winning lots will be invoiced through LiveAuctioneers' LivePayments invoicing system, unless bidder chooses to pay Artemis Fine Arts directly via personal check or money order, via credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover), PayPal or Bank Wire Transfer. If bidder chooses to pay Artemis Fine Arts directly, bidder must contact Artemis Fine Arts to arrange payment. Payments not made within 5 business days of auction's end will forfeit bidder's right to purchase said item(s), with item(s) relisted to next appropriate auction. In addition, non-paying bidders will receive posted negative feedback on LiveAuctioneers and not be allowed bidding privileges on any future auctions.

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3. RETURN POLICY: No sale is final if you're not happy; however, it is important that you keep in mind deadlines for reporting issues based on the following situations: a. In the event of an authenticity dispute, written email notification must be provided to Artemis Fine Arts within 2 business days from receipt of the item as shown by FedEx, UPS, or USPS tracking data. After Artemis Fine Arts is notified of the dispute, a written letter from a recognized expert in the field pertaining to the item in dispute must then be presented for consideration (NO EXCEPTIONS). If Artemis Fine Arts concludes that the expert's assessment of the piece is accurate, a full refund, including hammer price, buyer's premium (if applicable), and shipping costs will be provided. Artemis Fine Arts will either provide a prepaid return shipping label or reimburse the return shipping charge. Artemis Fine Arts will only remit refund after the item has been returned in the same condition as received. b. In the event of an error in item description, condition report, provenance, or dimensions, written notification of the error must be given within 2 business days from receipt of the item as shown by FedEx, UPS, or USPS tracking data. A full refund, including item price, buyer's premium (if applicable), and shipping costs will be provided, if so requested. Artemis Fine Arts will either provide a prepaid return shipping label or will reimburse the return shipping charge. Artemis Fine Arts will only remit refund after the item has been returned in the same condition as received. c. If a return is requested for any reason other than the above, written notification with reason for return must be given within 2 days from receipt of the item as shown by FedEx, UPS, or USPS tracking data for Artemis Fine Arts to issue a refund to the original payment method. If notification is given after 5 days, the item may be returned for credit toward a future purchase or may be consigned for sale through Artemis Fine Arts. The item must be returned to Artemis Fine Arts at the buyer's expense. Original shipping charges will not be refunded. All items to be returned must be adequately insured and must be received by Artemis Fine Arts in the same condition as when shipped. In no event may any item be returned after 20 days from the date of delivery.

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**Please note, we are currently unable to ship to Germany, Switzerland and Australia due to customs clearance issues. We are working to resolve this issue. If you are in Germany, Switzerland or Australia, you will need to provide an alternate shipping destination, arrange your own shipping, or we will not be able to complete your purchase.*

**For shipments outside of the USA, custom / duties may apply upon entry into said country; this fee, if any, is the buyer's responsibility. Also, please be aware that Artemis Fine Arts will NOT falsify customs value on any international shipments - what you pay is what we declare, no exceptions. If you have questions about this, please inquire BEFORE bidding**

5. Buyer agrees that any claim of controversy arising out of, or relating to the formation, interpretation of performance of these terms and underlying transactions or the breach thereof, is subject to arbitration or judicial proceedings and shall take place within the County of Boulder, CO subject to the laws of the State of Colorado.

6. QUESTIONS? Feel free to email us with questions prior to bidding or call us at 720-890-7700.

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