Skull bowl

Museum number:
9-22210
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21090022210
Alternate number:
B-02 (original number) and BY.B-02
Description:
This is a ritual bowl made from a human skull bone. It is lined with a bronze lining crafted to fit this skull perfectly. The lining is inset with turquoise and its rim is decorated with floral motifs. The skull bowl is used in Tantric rituals as the attribute of certain deities and to contain and dispense sacred ambrosias. Similar item: T-46, T-123 Photo No. bampfa_unac_14415_1_1.tif
Collection place:
Tibet
Verbatim coll. place:
Tibet
Collector:
Theos C. Bernard
Materials:
Bronze (metal) and Turquoise (mineral)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Bowls (vessels)
Function:
5.1 Religion and Divination: Objects and garb associated with practices reflecting submission, devotion, obedience, and service to supernatural agencies
Production date:
19th-20th century
Department:
Human remains
Images:
Hearst Museum object 1 of 4 titled Skull bowl, accession number 9-22210, described as This is a ritual bowl made from a human skull bone. It is lined with a bronze lining crafted to fit this skull perfectly. The lining is inset with turquoise and its rim is decorated with floral motifs. The skull bowl is used in Tantric rituals as the attribute of certain deities and to contain and dispense sacred ambrosias. Similar item: T-46, T-123 Photo No. bampfa_unac_14415_1_1.tifHearst Museum object 2 of 4 titled Skull bowl, accession number 9-22210, described as This is a ritual bowl made from a human skull bone. It is lined with a bronze lining crafted to fit this skull perfectly. The lining is inset with turquoise and its rim is decorated with floral motifs. The skull bowl is used in Tantric rituals as the attribute of certain deities and to contain and dispense sacred ambrosias. Similar item: T-46, T-123 Photo No. bampfa_unac_14415_1_1.tifHearst Museum object 3 of 4 titled Skull bowl, accession number 9-22210, described as This is a ritual bowl made from a human skull bone. It is lined with a bronze lining crafted to fit this skull perfectly. The lining is inset with turquoise and its rim is decorated with floral motifs. The skull bowl is used in Tantric rituals as the attribute of certain deities and to contain and dispense sacred ambrosias. Similar item: T-46, T-123 Photo No. bampfa_unac_14415_1_1.tifHearst Museum object 4 of 4 titled Skull bowl, accession number 9-22210, described as This is a ritual bowl made from a human skull bone. It is lined with a bronze lining crafted to fit this skull perfectly. The lining is inset with turquoise and its rim is decorated with floral motifs. The skull bowl is used in Tantric rituals as the attribute of certain deities and to contain and dispense sacred ambrosias. Similar item: T-46, T-123 Photo No. bampfa_unac_14415_1_1.tif

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