A gilded copper ritual mask titled simply "Bhairava," with rock crystal and paint, Nepal, Kathmandu Valley, Malla period, 16th century. Bhairava, the fierce form of Shiva, is shown with bulging crystal eyes, bared fangs and a flame-like crown of skulls, the standard iconography of a Newar festival dance mask. Held today by the Metropolitan Museum of Art under accession 2012.444.2, Asian Art department.
Facts
Subject Matter
Depicted SubjectBhairava, the fierce form of the Hindu god Shiva also venerated in Newar Buddhist practice 1 Custody
Current LocationThe Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 1 Current CustodianThe Metropolitan Museum of Art 1 Custody HistoryZimmerman Family Collection, Gift of the Zimmerman Family, 2012 1 Medium (class) Origins
Date of Creation RegionKathmandu Valley (Nepal) 1 Attributions
TraditionHindu and Newar Buddhist ritual tradition of the Kathmandu Valley 1 Physical Form
MediumGilded copper, rock crystal, paint 1 DimensionsH. 32 in. (81.3 cm); W. 36 in. (91.4 cm); D. 14 in. (35.6 cm) 1 Rights and Reproduction
Reproduction and CopyrightThe Metropolitan Museum of Art has designated this work as being in the public domain and makes it available through its Open Access policy; no permission is required for reproduction. 1 Connections
Associated With
This source names Newar directly: "skulls, the standard iconography of a Newar festival dance mask."
Source Bhairava, accession 2012.444.2 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Belongs to Tradition
Source Bhairava, accession 2012.444.2 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Depicts
The Met's own title for this mask is the bare subject name, "Bhairava," with no other reading possible.
Source Bhairava, accession 2012.444.2 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Originated In
Source The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Bhairava
Sources
1. Bhairava, accession 2012.444.2 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Metropolitan Museum of Art- accession 2012.444.2
catalogue record, medium/object-type description
A gilded copper ritual mask titled simply "Bhairava," with rock crystal and paint, Nepal, Kathmandu Valley, Malla period, 16th century.
View the Source The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Bhairava
The Metropolitan Museum of ArtOriginated In: Nepal, Collection record (open API), culture fieldQuote, Originated In: Nepal, Collection record (open API), culture field
"culture": "Nepal, Kathmandu Valley"
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.
View At A Past Year
Choose a year to see this entry's facts and connections as the atlas records them at that moment: what it held then, what it held instead, and what it had not yet adopted. Choose Present for the current record.