133 - NEPAL

NEPAL Two carved wooden handles topped with psychopomp riders. H. 38 and 35 cm. One is mounted on a base. In several regions of the Himalayas and Central Asia, the horse plays an important role in beliefs related to death and the spiritual world. It is often regarded as a psychopomp—an animal capable of guiding the soul of the deceased. Stone sculptures thus depict horsemen who may represent the soul’s journey to the afterlife. Shamanic practices also play a significant role in these traditions. The horse therefore appears as a symbol of travel, transition, and communication between different worlds. Reference: - Published in Pannier François, “The Horse as Psychopomp & Phurbu: Reflections on a Ritual Object,” Lettre du Toit du monde, No. 27, June 2019