Collection place: Tibetan Plateau / Materials: Bronze (metal) / Accession year: [Missing] - Hearst Museum Portal Search Results

Start Over Collection place Tibetan Plateau Materials Bronze (metal) Accession year [Missing]

Hearst Museum object titled Aura or halo, accession number 9-21999, described as This is the aura or halo (gyab-yol) for a bronze deity image. It does not appear to fit any of the images in the present collection. As is known from documentation and photographs in the present collection, the orginal collection brought by TB from Tibet in 1937 included a great many other artifacts and images. Perhaps this artifact goes with one of those images.The aura or halo (gyab-yol) is seen in most all Buddhist images and paintings of enlightened deities (i.e., Buddhas and Bodhisattvas). It is an iconographic convention for indicating the sacred power of the deity.

Hearst Museum object titled Base for deity image, accession number 9-22355, described as Bottom for a bronze deity image. It is damaged and was probably discarded as it could no longer seal the consecration materials into the image.

Hearst Museum object titled Broken ghanta bell, accession number 9-21903a,b, described as This is an old ghanta bell with a handle of gilded bronze. The bell is made of a five metal alloy to produce a rich, full sound. The bell is badly cracked and the upper part of the bell, below where the handle joins, is completely broken. The striker shows a pattern of wear associated with many years of constant use.The ghanta bell is used in most Tantric rituals. It is held in the left hand and the matched vajra is held in the right. The matching vajra to this ghanta is not present in the collection. It would match upper part of the ghanta handle. The ghanta embodies the feminine principle in Tantric usage, and the vajra is the masculine. The ghanta holds the principle of ultimate wisdom and the vajra, the principle of ultimate compassion and skillful means.Ghanta bells in this collection are numbers: T-23; T-63; T-66; T-67; & T-85

Hearst Museum object titled Bronze lid, accession number 9-21951, described as This is a lid for some type of vessel or cup.

Hearst Museum object titled Bronze offering bowl, accession number 9-21953, described as Here is one bronze offering bowl. Offering bowls are used for making daily offerings to the images of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha on a Buddhist altar. Normally seven bowls are offered on an altar. They are typically filled with water, but the water symbolizes the seven offerings: water for drinking, water for washing, anointments, flowers, incense, lamps, and food.See also T-16, T-17, T-115, T-116.

Hearst Museum object titled Buddha medallions, accession number 9-21962a,b, described as This is a set of decorative medallions showing Buddha Shakyamuni.

Hearst Museum object titled Censer lid on chain, accession number 9-21930, described as This appears to be the lid on a censer used in meditation halls during rituals. The censer contains glowing charcoal upon which powered incense, called "zang" is spread. The zang is made of a variety of fine aromatic herbs. The censer is then carried by one monk or ritual assistant who walks up and down the files of seated meditators, swinging the censer so as to pervade every corner of the room with its fragrance. It functions to dispel demons and untoward non-human influences while invoking gods and benevolent spirits.

Hearst Museum object titled Cymbal, accession number 9-22068, described as T-206 & T-207 are one set of rolmo cymbals, also known as "bhookh." Together with regular cymbals (flat rather than hat-shaped) and long horns (gDung Chen--T-143 and T-144) they are played for ceremonial occasions at Tibetan monasteries, typically accompanied by bass drums. The hollow, hat-shape of these cymbals gives them the deep, stentorian sound valued in Tibetan sacred music. The rolmo cymbals are held horizontally, using the leather thongs, the upper one moved up and down to produce sound.

Hearst Museum object titled Cymbal, accession number 9-22069, described as T-206 & T-207 are one set of rolmo cymbals, also known as "bhookh." Together with regular cymbals (flat rather than hat-shaped) and long horns (gDung Chen--T-143 and T-144) they are played for ceremonial occasions at Tibetan monasteries, typically accompanied by bass drums. The hollow, hat-shape of these cymbals gives them the deep, stentorian sound valued in Tibetan sacred music. The rolmo cymbals are held horizontally, using the leather thongs, the upper one moved up and down to produce sound.

Hearst Museum object titled Fire mandala and tripod, accession number 9-22053, described as This is the lower portion of a Kapala (skull cup) ritual set. The triangular portion is the fire mandala (the sphere of the fire element) upon which is the tripod formed from three freshly severed human heads. Upon this tripod would be placed a matching skull cup, formed either from an actual human skull or from a bronze or silver facsimile. This tripod is of the size appropriate to an actual human skull cup. There are several in this collection (see T-46). Upon the skull cup could be placed a fitted lid with a vajra handle (see T-69).