Very old ghurra of top quality!! Nepal, 1900-1930

Large old ghurra, churning stick holder from Nepal.

An exceptionally beautiful copy! probably made of burr walnut wood. Used during special ceremonies; no daily use. The patina is stunning and convincing in terms of use and age. The top is a kind of roof like a temple. Below this a graceful intertwining with 2 x 3 churns on the side. Geometric figurations in between. The round part through which the churning stick passes is also completely decorated with geometric patterns. The ghurra is placed on a custom-made stand.

Length: 28 cm, including stand 33 cm
Weight: 458 grams, including standard 645 grams
Origin: Nepal.
Dating: 1900-1930
Provenance: Obtained from our own network in situ

Below is some more information about ghurras.

For centuries, Nepalese mountain dwellers used the ghurra (churning stick holder) as a tool to churn milk into (clarified) butter. This ritual is based on the age-old Hindu myth, the Samudra Manthana: the churning of the primeval ocean by gods and demons. This myth not only tells the creation story, but also depicts the battle between good and evil. Through the use of the ghurra, the act of churning is transcended into a sacred event; the ritual confirmation of the Samudra Manthana. For Nepalese, the churning process is 'darshan', a sacred time of the day to be blessed by their gods. The decorations on the ghurras refer to the gods of the Hindu pantheon and are, as it were, the connecting signs to the elusive mystery of the universe. Ghurras are thus an expression of a transcendent reality, hidden under the veil of observable reality

Ghurras have a round shape at the bottom that represents the solar disk (chakra), symbol of Vishnu, the patron god of the country and people of Nepal. The solar disk represents the miraculous power of the universal soul, which creates, sustains and destroys in all spheres of the universe. On the solar disk there is a mostly vertical extension in the shape of a lingam, symbol of Shiva (the god of destruction and re-creation). This part is made up of symmetrical figures with symbolic elements. Not a single detail in the performance is a personal invention, everything has a ritual meaning.

For information about the ghurras, the exhibition catalog published in 2004 was used: Ghurras, gods from the Himalayas - Nepalese folk art. Composition and editing Annemarie De Gendt and Paul De Smedt.