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This oval intaglio depicts an ouroboros (a snake eating its own tail) enclosing two lines of text above and below three magical characters (in this case, ring-signs). The reverse is plain.

Gnostic

H: 7/8 x W: 1 1/4 x D: 3/16 in. (2.2 x 3.1 x 0.4 cm)

medium: brown mottled carnelian

culture: Gnostic

Walters Art Museum, 1942, by purchase.

art.thewalters.org/detail/12824

<em>Damaru</em> drums are made from the tops of two skulls joined in the center and sounded by rapidly turning it side to side so the ends of the cords fly up to sound against the stretched skin. In Hindu and Buddhist rituals, the rhythm of the damaru references the ongoing, relentless beat of time. The material of bone reminds practitioners of the inevitability of death in the course of time.

Tibet

skull bone, cloth, hemp fiber, leather, and skin

Overall: 20.4 x 17.8 x 13.1 cm (8 1/16 x 7 x 5 3/16 in.)

Did you know...

Dancing Shiva, in his form as Nataraja, holds a <em>damaru</em> in one hand.

The Charles G. King Jr. collection; Gift of Ralph King in memory of Charles G. King Jr.

clevelandart.org/art/1918.391

Joseph Ward

active ca. 1740–60

84 3/4 x 20 x 10 in. (215.3 x 50.8 x 25.4 cm)

medium: Japanned white pine; brass, iron, glass

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY 1985.341 1985

Purchase, Virginia L-S Cowles, Diane L-S Hewat, and

Marne L-S Hornblower Gifts, in memory of their sister,

Clara Lloyd-Smith Weber, 1986

www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/8164

This amulet is the head of a jackal. He holds a whip and crook, and is kneeling with snakes before his knees. He has the tail of a bird.

Egyptian

H: 2 7/16 x W: 7/8 x D: 2 1/16 in. (6.2 x 2.27 x 5.3 cm)

medium: bronze cast

culture: Egyptian

Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

art.thewalters.org/detail/6652

via Blogger bit.ly/2SiBg9m

Morning, c. 1864. Charles-Émile Jacque (French, 1813–1894). Etching, drypoint, and engraving on chine collé; The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of Elizabeth Carroll Shearer 2016.200

More at clevelandart.org/art/2016.200

Circa February 29, 2012 | Photo By: Rachel Campbell

The front of the tsuba is decorated with chrysanthemums, Chinese bell flowers and a butterfly. On the reverse are mist flowers. These three flowers are among the seven celebrated flowers of autumn that often appear in poetry. This is part of a mounted set in which all pieces are decorated with autumn flowers and signed by Ishiguro Masatsune.

Japanese

H: 2 7/16 x W: 2 3/16 x D: 3/16 in. (6.2 x 5.5 x 0.4 cm)

medium: silver, gold, sentoku

culture: Japanese

Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

art.thewalters.org/detail/7053