Altar Ornament with Tantric Deity

Artist

attributed to : Mongolian (Mongolian)
attributed to : Sino-Tibetan (Chinese Tibetan)

Date

Late 19th-20th century

Medium

Copper and semi-precious stones

Dimensions

Work : 15 x 8 1/2 x 5 in. (38.1 x 21.59 x 12.7 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of David Kamansky and Gerald Wheaton

Object Number

2019.69.2

Label

This jewel-shaped ornament may originally have belonged to a larger set of ritual objects that was used on the altar of a Mongolian or Tibetan Buddhist temple. Similarly shaped ornaments have been preserved in sets of altar furnishings that also include offering dishes and incense burners. The central image on the ornament is a wrathful deity with ten arms, the hands of which hold an array of tantric weapons and symbols. The central deity is flanked above and below by four guardian figures. There is a repoussé Kalachakra symbol at the top of the ornament and an engraved oṃ symbol on its reverse side.