Old ghurra, churnstick holder, with shaman, Nepal, 1930-50

Large ghurra, churn holder. Very strong appearance, robust, earthy and mystical ... with images of a shaman, geometric patterns, a snake, the sun and lightning. Beautiful patina. Obvious traces of use and age. A beauty!! (for a competitive price) and neatly placed on a custom-made stand.

Length: 33.5 cm, including stand 37.5 cm
Weight: 715 grams
Origin: West Nepal
Dating: 1930-50
Provenance: Obtained from our own network in situ.

More information about churn holders:

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. The use of the ghurra transcends the act of churning 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 beneath 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.