Fire mandala and tripod

Museum number:
9-22053
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21090022053
Alternate number:
BY.T-10 and T-10 (original number)
Description:
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).
Collection place:
Tibet
Verbatim coll. place:
Tibet
Collector:
Theos C. Bernard
Materials:
Bronze (metal) and Turquoise (mineral)
Object type:
ethnography
Function:
5.0 Use not specified (Ritual, Pageantry, and Recreation)
Production date:
19th-20th century
Department:
Asia (except western Russia)
Comment:
A beautiful and unique piece. Probably used in a monastery .
Images:
Hearst Museum object 1 of 6 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).Hearst Museum object 2 of 6 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).Hearst Museum object 3 of 6 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).Hearst Museum object 4 of 6 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).Hearst Museum object 5 of 6 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).Hearst Museum object 6 of 6 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).

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