Indian Iron Tantric Lingam

Pale and grain-streaked, with rusty hats at each end like bookends.

This tantric lingam is from Narmada River, Madhya Pradesh, India. It is quartz crystal & iron. Dams planned along the Narmada since the 1940s have steadily removed the dry season that harvesting depends on, so gathering genuine lingams from the riverbed has become close to impossible. Plump oval on a black stand. The body is pale grey with fine vertical grain lines and a soft shine. Dark amber-red caps with ragged, dripping edges mark the top and the bottom. It is 16 inches high and 8.25 in diameter.

Plain in the middle, flamboyant at the ends, and unrepentant.