Bidspirit auction | A Silver Alloy and Parcel-Gilt

A Silver Alloy and Parcel-Gilt Five-Skull Oracle Crown, Tibet, Late 19th–Early 20th Century - A ritual Tibetan crown composed of silver and parcel-gilt alloy, adorned with cabochon turquoise and coral, repoussé and chased. The central band decorated with five skulls among scrolling foliage, further inset with cabochon turquoise and coral. Rising from the crown are five peaks, each surmounted by a skull-form and gilt leaf-shaped plaque, similarly set with cabochons and embellished with additional gilt foliate elements. The interior lined with textile patterned with flowers and leaves on a golden ground. Height: 17 cm; Diameter: 22 cm Notes: Such crowns were worn by Tibetan oracles during trance ceremonies. In wrathful form depictions of bodhisattvas similar crowns are sometimes shown, each skull representing one of the five Dhyani Buddhas of the Vajrayana Buddhist pantheon. A comparable example was offered at Sotheby’s, New York, “Indian & Southeast Asian Art, ” 24 March 2004, lot 127. Condition: For a full condition report, please email us at: office@alma.auction.