19th C. Nepalese Painted Wood Skull Mask

About Auction

Live

Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Feb 18, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-02-18 10:00:00 2021-02-18 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-6373
Museum-worthy examples of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Russian, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine Art, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

View Full Catalog (356)

• Lot Description
  Central Asia, Nepal, Himalayan region, ca. 19th century. A striking carved-wood dance mask depicting the face of a Citipati, a skeletal protector deity in Himalayan Buddhism, boasting a lustrous burnish, created by coating it in yak butter fat and charring it over a fire, and embellished in shades of caramel and crimson. An enormous Cheshire cat smile dominates this haunting visage, reaching the same plane of the ovoid eyes and displaying two rows of large teeth, carefully incised and set in red-painted gums. Sitting above the concave nose, his openwork eyes are positioned unnaturally close together and outlined with red borders. Two incised decorative striations outlined in red cross at the top of the head and travel down the face. Six drill holes, two at the bottom of the mask, two at the top, and one at each corner of his toothy grin, allow for the evocative vizard to be strapped to one's face. A slender strip of leather woven through the bottom drill holes also serves for this purpose. Size: 7.5" W x 9" H (19 cm x 22.9 cm); 13" H (33 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  Despite their bulging eyes, gnashing teeth and overall frightening appearance, the Citipati protect the Dharma (Buddhist teachings) from forces of dejection and ignorance. Typically depicted in pairs, the skeletons or Citipati (also known as Chitipati) represent a pair of lovers known as the Lord and Lady of the funeral pyre, whose sacred skeleton dance symbolizes the eternal dance of death as well as the arrival at absolute consciousness. In the traditional performance of the Tibetan Skeleton dance at cemeteries, the two Dharmapalas (Protectors of Truth) are played by Monks. They are deities whose primary role is to protect the cemetery grounds. Beyond this, their presence signifies the ephemeral nature of this earthly world and reminds the audience members of their own mortality. The cult of the "Second Buddha," Padmasambhava, planted the seed for this practice through their rich mythological literature.
  
  The Himalayan masking tradition is not as well-known as those from Africa or Southeastern Asia, and today some of the original information has been lost due to fading oral traditions. Masks like this one relate to indigenous, animist traditions that developed in the harsh, wild environment of the Himalayas, and so they are often representations of local spirits.
  
  Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Josette Schulmann collection, Paris, France
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #162487

  Condition

  Collection label on back of custom stand. Light scratches and abrasions on surface commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent with nice remaining pigments.
• Shipping Info

  • All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.

• Buyer's Premium
  • 26.50 %