Antique Tibetan Zanpar (carved wooden mould stick). This zanpar was carved with numerous primitive and evocative figures. Zanpars often depict miniature demons, animals and deities or ritual implements. Tsampa, a dough made up of barley meal and yak butter would be pressed into the relief carved figures to make small offerings for protective and ritual purposes. The figures can be elegant in some zanpar or primitive as in this example. Interestingly, the 27 carved figures in this zanpar are somewhat reminiscent of some pictographs and petroglyphs seen in ancient rock art sites on the high Tibetan Plateau. Size: 14.5 x 1 x 1 inches.