Two lid of a skull-receptacle "kapala" ·  Tibet · ID: 3038003

Description

halves of human skull, coated with delicate floral ornaments in bas-relief, the rim seamed by small silver metal skulls, silver metal coating inside, set with five semi-precious stones, l: 18,5 cm; deeply hollowed skull-cup, seamed by small silver metal skulls, coated with silver metal on the inside, L: 17 cm;
used for tantric rites and sacrificial offerings. In Tibetan monasteries it is used symbolically to hold dough cakes, “torma” (cakes) and wine instead of blood and flesh as offerings to wrathful deities, such as the ferocious “Dharmapala”.

The object Two lid of a skull-receptacle “kapala” with the object ID 3038003 was part of the auction 79th Tribal Art Auction on March 21, 2015. The object with the lot number 30 achieved a sales price of EUR 850 with an asking price of EUR 300.

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