This magnificent Kartika is made by the artisans of Nepal.
It is in brass.
 
A kartika or drigug or kartari is a small crescent-shaped ritual hand knife used in tantric ceremonies in Vajrayana Buddhism. The kartika is said to be "one of the quintessential attributes of wrathful tantric deities. It is commonly referred to as the 'knife of the dakinis'.
 
While the kartika is normally held in the right hand of a dakini in Vajrayana iconography and spiritual practice, it can sometimes be seen held by esoteric male deities, such as some forms of Yamantaka. It is also found frequently in the iconography of the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual practice of Chöd.
 
The kartika is used to symbolize the breaking of all material and worldly ties and is often crowned with a vajra, which is said to destroy ignorance and thus lead to enlightenment.
 
Signification:
Cut through human obscurations to progress on the spiritual path, including "pride, lack of belief, lack of devotion, distraction, inattention, and boredom"; illumination