Two Tibetan Thigh Bone Prayer Wheel Cylinders | Circa 19th Century

Provenance & Ownership History
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Sold by Waddington’s, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, as Lot 691 in the Cabinet of Curiosities auction on December 14, 2023. Subsequently acquired by a private collector in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

$1,500.00
$1,500.00
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This is a one-of-a-kind historical object. Once sold, this exact piece will not be restocked.
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Pair of 19th century Tibetan femur prayer wheels with carved Buddha and Sanskrit script
Video of pair of Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheels carved from human femur bone with Buddha relief figures and Sanskrit inscriptions
Pair of Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheels carved from human femur bone with Buddha relief figures
Antique Tibetan human bone prayer wheels with carved Buddha figures and Sanskrit inscriptions
Tibetan Buddhist ritual prayer wheel carved from human femur bone with detailed relief decoration
Close view of hand-carved Tibetan prayer wheel showing Buddha figures in raised relief
Tibetan Buddhist bone prayer wheel with three Buddha images in different mudra positions
Antique Tibetan ritual object carved from human bone with Buddhist figures and sacred inscriptions
Pair of Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheels carved from human femur bone with Buddha relief figures
Side view of Tibetan Buddhist human bone prayer wheel with carved devotional imagery
Antique Tibetan human bone prayer wheels with carved Buddha figures and Sanskrit inscriptions
Tibetan Buddhist ritual prayer wheel carved from human femur bone with detailed relief decoration
Hand-carved Tibetan bone prayer wheel decorated with seated Buddha figures in relief
Tibetan Buddhist human bone prayer wheel with three Buddha figures in distinct mudra positions
Antique Tibetan ritual prayer wheels carved from human bone with sacred Buddhist imagery
Tibetan femur bone prayer wheel with Sanskrit inscriptions above carved Buddha figures
Hand-carved Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheel with aged bone surface and relief decoration
Pair of 18th to 19th century Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheels crafted from human bone
Tibetan human femur bone prayer wheel featuring Buddhist figures and carved inscription band
Antique Tibetan bone carving with seated Buddha figure and detailed ritual decoration
Tibetan Buddhist devotional prayer wheel with carved Buddha figures and sacred inscriptions
Historic Tibetan ritual prayer wheel made from human thigh bone with intricate Buddhist carvings
  • Pair of 19th century Tibetan femur prayer wheels with carved Buddha and Sanskrit script
  • Video of pair of Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheels carved from human femur bone with Buddha relief figures and Sanskrit inscriptions
  • Pair of Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheels carved from human femur bone with Buddha relief figures
  • Antique Tibetan human bone prayer wheels with carved Buddha figures and Sanskrit inscriptions
  • Tibetan Buddhist ritual prayer wheel carved from human femur bone with detailed relief decoration
  • Close view of hand-carved Tibetan prayer wheel showing Buddha figures in raised relief
  • Tibetan Buddhist bone prayer wheel with three Buddha images in different mudra positions
  • Antique Tibetan ritual object carved from human bone with Buddhist figures and sacred inscriptions
  • Pair of Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheels carved from human femur bone with Buddha relief figures
  • Side view of Tibetan Buddhist human bone prayer wheel with carved devotional imagery
  • Antique Tibetan human bone prayer wheels with carved Buddha figures and Sanskrit inscriptions
  • Tibetan Buddhist ritual prayer wheel carved from human femur bone with detailed relief decoration
  • Hand-carved Tibetan bone prayer wheel decorated with seated Buddha figures in relief
  • Tibetan Buddhist human bone prayer wheel with three Buddha figures in distinct mudra positions
  • Antique Tibetan ritual prayer wheels carved from human bone with sacred Buddhist imagery
  • Tibetan femur bone prayer wheel with Sanskrit inscriptions above carved Buddha figures
  • Hand-carved Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheel with aged bone surface and relief decoration
  • Pair of 18th to 19th century Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheels crafted from human bone
  • Tibetan human femur bone prayer wheel featuring Buddhist figures and carved inscription band
  • Antique Tibetan bone carving with seated Buddha figure and detailed ritual decoration
  • Tibetan Buddhist devotional prayer wheel with carved Buddha figures and sacred inscriptions
  • Historic Tibetan ritual prayer wheel made from human thigh bone with intricate Buddhist carvings
Pair of 19th century Tibetan femur prayer wheels with carved Buddha and Sanskrit script
Video of pair of Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheels carved from human femur bone with Buddha relief figures and Sanskrit inscriptions
Pair of Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheels carved from human femur bone with Buddha relief figures
Antique Tibetan human bone prayer wheels with carved Buddha figures and Sanskrit inscriptions
Tibetan Buddhist ritual prayer wheel carved from human femur bone with detailed relief decoration
Close view of hand-carved Tibetan prayer wheel showing Buddha figures in raised relief
Tibetan Buddhist bone prayer wheel with three Buddha images in different mudra positions
Antique Tibetan ritual object carved from human bone with Buddhist figures and sacred inscriptions
Pair of Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheels carved from human femur bone with Buddha relief figures
Side view of Tibetan Buddhist human bone prayer wheel with carved devotional imagery
Antique Tibetan human bone prayer wheels with carved Buddha figures and Sanskrit inscriptions
Tibetan Buddhist ritual prayer wheel carved from human femur bone with detailed relief decoration
Hand-carved Tibetan bone prayer wheel decorated with seated Buddha figures in relief
Tibetan Buddhist human bone prayer wheel with three Buddha figures in distinct mudra positions
Antique Tibetan ritual prayer wheels carved from human bone with sacred Buddhist imagery
Tibetan femur bone prayer wheel with Sanskrit inscriptions above carved Buddha figures
Hand-carved Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheel with aged bone surface and relief decoration
Pair of 18th to 19th century Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheels crafted from human bone
Tibetan human femur bone prayer wheel featuring Buddhist figures and carved inscription band
Antique Tibetan bone carving with seated Buddha figure and detailed ritual decoration
Tibetan Buddhist devotional prayer wheel with carved Buddha figures and sacred inscriptions
Historic Tibetan ritual prayer wheel made from human thigh bone with intricate Buddhist carvings
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Two Tibetan Thigh Bone Prayer Wheel Cylinders | Circa 19th Century

Description
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Historical Context & Origin

Region: Tibet
Material: Human femur bone, hand-carved with relief decoration
Period: Likely 18th–19th Century (Tibetan Buddhist ritual tradition)

Description

This extraordinary and sacred pair of Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheels is intricately carved from human thigh bones, a practice deeply rooted in Tibetan ritual tradition. Each wheel is decorated with three relief-carved images of the Buddha in different mudra positions beneath a band of Sanskrit prayers. Though compact in size, these objects carry immense spiritual weight, embodying impermanence, devotion, and the transformative power of Buddhist practice.

Features

- Pair of hand-carved prayer wheels from human femur bone

- Three Buddha figures in relief, each in a distinct mudra (hand gesture)

- Band of Sanskrit inscriptions symbolizing prayers and blessings

- Compact devotional size, 3.1 in in height

- Crafted as ritual objects signifying impermanence and spiritual practice

Cultural Significance

In Tibetan Buddhism, prayer wheels are ritual tools believed to generate merit, spread compassion, and invoke blessings with each turn. Inscribed with sacred mantras such as Om Mani Padme Hum, these wheels serve as an extension of prayer itself—turning them carries the same spiritual potency as vocal recitation. The use of human bone in sacred ritual objects reinforces the Buddhist teaching of impermanence and the cycle of life and death. As such, these prayer wheels embody both ritual function and profound philosophical meaning, representing the rich spiritual heritage of Tibet.

Condition

Good condition with natural age-related wear. Relief carvings and inscriptions remain clear and legible.

Dimensions (Approximate)

Height: 3.1 in (each)

Age (Approximate)

125–325 years old

Provenance

Sold by Waddington’s, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, as Lot 691 in the Cabinet of Curiosities auction on December 14, 2023. Subsequently acquired by a private collector in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Learn More

Learn about Tibetan Prayer Wheels

View related Tibetan ritual artifacts: Tibetan Kapala Skull Cup, Pair of Rare Large Tibetan Kapala Citipati, and Tibetan Tantric Ritual Apron (Rus Gyan)

Description

Historical Context & Origin

Region: Tibet
Material: Human femur bone, hand-carved with relief decoration
Period: Likely 18th–19th Century (Tibetan Buddhist ritual tradition)

Description

This extraordinary and sacred pair of Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheels is intricately carved from human thigh bones, a practice deeply rooted in Tibetan ritual tradition. Each wheel is decorated with three relief-carved images of the Buddha in different mudra positions beneath a band of Sanskrit prayers. Though compact in size, these objects carry immense spiritual weight, embodying impermanence, devotion, and the transformative power of Buddhist practice.

Features

- Pair of hand-carved prayer wheels from human femur bone

- Three Buddha figures in relief, each in a distinct mudra (hand gesture)

- Band of Sanskrit inscriptions symbolizing prayers and blessings

- Compact devotional size, 3.1 in in height

- Crafted as ritual objects signifying impermanence and spiritual practice

Cultural Significance

In Tibetan Buddhism, prayer wheels are ritual tools believed to generate merit, spread compassion, and invoke blessings with each turn. Inscribed with sacred mantras such as Om Mani Padme Hum, these wheels serve as an extension of prayer itself—turning them carries the same spiritual potency as vocal recitation. The use of human bone in sacred ritual objects reinforces the Buddhist teaching of impermanence and the cycle of life and death. As such, these prayer wheels embody both ritual function and profound philosophical meaning, representing the rich spiritual heritage of Tibet.

Condition

Good condition with natural age-related wear. Relief carvings and inscriptions remain clear and legible.

Dimensions (Approximate)

Height: 3.1 in (each)

Age (Approximate)

125–325 years old

Provenance

Sold by Waddington’s, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, as Lot 691 in the Cabinet of Curiosities auction on December 14, 2023. Subsequently acquired by a private collector in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Learn More

Learn about Tibetan Prayer Wheels

View related Tibetan ritual artifacts: Tibetan Kapala Skull Cup, Pair of Rare Large Tibetan Kapala Citipati, and Tibetan Tantric Ritual Apron (Rus Gyan)

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