Lid of a skull-receptacle "kapala" and skullcup ·  Tibet · ID: 3037691

Description

halves of human skulls, a) lid of the “kapala” coated with delicate ornaments in bas-relief, the rim seamed by small silver metal skulls, inside coated with silver metal; b) deeply hollowed skullcup, coated with silver metal on the inside, rim with metal fringe, set with semi-precious stones;
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”.