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Companion Piece

Snake Skeleton

/Xam Bushman Amulet

Location: Himalayan mountains, India/Tibet border

Location: South Africa

Age: Contemporary

Age: Contemporary

Composite: Bone, string

Composite: Beads, string

Collected by: Lobzang

These are vertebrate from an unidentified but venomous snake (possibly a kite) strung together and used as an amulet in traditional Tibetan Buddhist and Bon rituals. After being captured and skinned the snake is buried underground for a number of days and is ‘charged’ with mantras and spells. It is then used in ritual offerings, in the case of this one it was used to invoke the Dharmapada Phalden Lhamo and placed opposite a peacock feather, which is believed to ritually counter the effects of venom. The author traded a knife with the venerable Rimponche for this object.

Collected by: Q7

This was gifted to me by a traditional healer and venerable Shaman Q7 as an amulet of protection. The strings that hang down from the centrepiece are “Bushman tears” and they should never be allowed to touch the ground, lest the protection turns into a curse.