Gokosho (Pestle with three prongs)｜Nara National Museum

Gokosho (Pestle with three prongs)

Bronze, gilted
L 17.0
Heian period　12th century

D000814

D000814
1990/02/14

D000815
1990/02/14

A023620
1990/02/14

A023621
1990/02/14

A023619

A023622

A023623

A023624

Both ends of this pestle end in a dramatically curved five-pronged vajra. The handle has a grand sense of volume. There is great beauty in its balanced form and gilding, and the large ovals of the motif at the center of the handle known as “demon eyes” are rendered as elongated ovals.

MIMOTO ShusakuEnglish by Mary Lewine
Buddhist Art Paradise: Jewels of the Nara National Museum. Nara National Museum, 2021.7, p.340, no.128.

Accession Number	665-0
Category	Decorative Arts
Donation	Gift of Mr. Ryōichi Hosomi
Bibliography	Buddhist Art Paradise: Jewels of the Nara National Museum. Nara National Museum, 2021.7, 354p. Masterpieces from the Collection of the Nara National Museum. Nara National Museum, 1997, 350p. (Japanese) Applied art of Japanese esoteric Buddhism. Nara National Museum, 1992, 286p. (Japanese) Illustrated Catalogue of the Collection of Nara National Museum: Buddhist Implements. Nara National Museum, 1992, 121p. (Japanese)