Bonhams 1793 : A wood Bhairava mask Nepal, 16th/17th century

Nepal, 16th/17th century
Rising from broad shoulders the powerfully modeled face in a ferocious expression with large bulging eyes beneath furled brows centered by the third eye. His copper alloy mouth pierced in the center with fangs encircled by a finely ornamented moustache and beard. His skull tiara centered by a bodhisattva head flanked by nagas and a five-leaf crown before his flaming hair, arranged in two rows of tight curls. The outer band of locks is secured by blossom clips, along with ducks, crescent moon, and skull flanking a central head of a deity at the crest. He is further ornamented by a snake necklace and large hoop earrings.
32 x 25 in. (81.2 x 63.5)

Sold for US$ 22,500 inc. premium

Footnotes

These masks were not the kind worn, but kept on display and used for special annual festivals dedicated to Indra. On the third night of the Indrajata chang, a local beer or spirits, was poured through a spout placed through the mouth of the mask for revelers who would imbibe the liquid under the auspices of receiving a divine blessing.

Provenance:
Sotheby's, New York, June 17, 1993, lot 14.
Acquired from Michael Cohn, New York, 2005.

Category: Asian Art / Southeast Asian, Indian and Himalayan Art

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