Tibetan, finely cast vajra thunderbolt with two lotus pedestals supporting a central column, each side surrounded by four vajra points emerging from the jaws of makara heads, separated by a central bulbous grip. L. 9.5 cm (3 3/4 in.) Provenance: From the estate of Mr Lobang Lhalungpa, a one time monk official in the Government of Tibet, he was also a pioneer radio broadcaster, educator, translator-scholar of Tibetan texts and spent a lifetime in advancing Tibetan culture and civilization. He came from a family of Buddhist scholars. He emigrated from India to Canada from 1971 and taught Tibetan language and religion at UBC.