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”.