明永樂 鎏金銅金剛橛 《大明永樂年施》款

the handle made up by a three-headed deity wearing an elaborate crown, with his hair bound by a snake, the centre of the handle inscribed vertically, Da Ming Yongle nian shi, the lower half with the seperately cast tripartite iron blade issuing from the jaws of a makara, with snakes writhing in and out of the open mouth, fitted metal stand

Speelman 收藏
香港蘇富比2006年10月7日，編號802

Robert E. Fisher，《Art of Tibet》，倫敦，1997年，圖版72
David Weldon，〈The Perfect Image: The Speelman Collection of Yongle and Xuande Buddhist Icons〉，《Arts of Asia》，1996年，頁64-73

The dagger is in excellent condition. As a ritual object that would have been handled, it is not surprising that the gilding shows occasional signs of wear.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

金剛橛（藏語 Purba 普巴，字義為樁釘），是宇宙佛法對抗敵魔的終極武器。此法器源自印度吠陀時期的傳統核心概念，內容有關太古宇宙之蛇（Vritra）的止滅與生命水能的流動。擁有毀滅與創造力量的金剛橛，其中央握軸代表印度雷神因陀羅（Intra）自天界射入大地的金剛閃電（Vaja）。在藏傳佛教儀式中，金剛橛是用來牽制與摧毀內心之魔障，即覺悟路上的障礙物。此法器的神秘力量，來自握柄上的忿怒聖尊，透由此刀刃可斬斷摧毀負面之邪惡力量。驅魔者一般用單支金剛橛（Kila），法會儀式上，則多以十個成組的金剛橛作淨化場地之用，例如淨化曼荼羅或寺廟。薩迦寺藏五柄成組金剛橛，或製於永樂年間，可能與本品同屬一系列，詳見李翼誠，《雪域名刹薩迦寺》，北京，2006年，頁45。同系西藏器例可見 Jane Casey、Naman P. Ahuja 及 David Weldon，《Divine Presence: Arts of India and the Himalayas》，巴塞隆納，2003年，頁160，圖版54。金剛橛隱含多重抽象與實體概念，可代表西藏坦特羅諸神，如橛金剛、馬頭明王或不動明王。

此拍品由摩竭神獸的嘴巴吐出了巨大的三刃鐵片與滑動的捲蛇。據說當摩竭海獸進入宇宙海，背脊的力量足以平衡整個宇宙。握柄結構包括永恆的吉祥結、典雅的蓮花葉瓣與三面忿怒聖尊，並以閃亮雙眼護衛每個方位。鐵質刀刃部位與鎏金握柄緊密接合宛若一體成形，顯示皇室藝匠的完美技術。這是文獻記錄唯一可見的永樂法器，其製作風格與同期雕像相符。橛上忿怒面容，與 Speelman 舊藏大威德金剛牛首上頭像有共通之處，該像售於香港蘇富比2006年10月7日，編號812，有別於一般耳飾之華麗繁縟，圓形耳環裝飾簡潔，罕見於同期造像。