A Tibetan iron phurba, probably 15th century, the handle with vajra crown terminal above a slender lotus grip, issuing a triple-sided tapering blade, length 33.5cm, with later silk case. Provenance: the Alain Presencer Collection. Note: the phurba is a ritual dagger used in Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhist practice to drive away the triple poisons of ignorance, greed and delusion that impede spiritual enlightenment. It is the embodiment of the Vajrakila Buddha, who is empowered to suppress all evil in the world.