Dance Mask
19th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Bhairava, the fierce form of the Hindu deity Shiva, is one of the most important deities worshipped in the Kathmandu Valley. Several large scale images there in metal and stone reveal the prototypes for this much smaller dance mask.
Object details
Category | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Repousse copper and inset stones |
Brief description | Copper dance mask decorated with glass and turquoises, Nepal, 19th century |
Physical description | A cast copper mask representing Bhairava with staring eyes inlaid with silver and gaping mouth and outstrwetched tongue made in sheet brass. Upper and lower fangs are of silver and upper teeth of shell. Hair at each side of the mouth is of inset black glass and small turquoises, similar decoration of the eyebrows in black glass and small turquoises. A third eye is represented in silver and two small brass earrings are inset with alternate rings of red glass and turquoises. The whole of the face is covered with small round red glass bead inset into round cloisons. Inside the reverse of the mask is a padded cloth fillet tied to the copper mask to cushion the wearer. |
Dimensions |
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Credit line | Bequeathed by Oppi Untracht |
Object history | Formerly in the collection of Oppi Untracht and collected by him in Nepal during the period 1963-67. |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | Bhairava, the fierce form of the Hindu deity Shiva, is one of the most important deities worshipped in the Kathmandu Valley. Several large scale images there in metal and stone reveal the prototypes for this much smaller dance mask. |
Collection | |
Accession number | IS.28-2009 |
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Record created | October 7, 2009 |
Record URL |
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