Skull mask "citipati" for the "cham" dance

Description

wood, pigment, base

“Citipati” is a protector deity in Tibetan Buddhism. It is formed of two skeletal deities, one male and the other female.

Their dancing serves as a symbol for death and rebirth. Their skeletal form is a reminder of the impermanence of life and eternal change. The dance of the “citipati” is commemorated twice annually in Tibet.