Lot 9
Central Asia, Tibet, ca. 19th century CE. A riveting ensemble of 5 human bone plaques from a rus rgyan or bone ornament, described in Western literature as a tantric apron, which is worn by religious sages and used in tantric dance rituals. The rus rgyan is traditionally worn as a type of armor and believed to help Tantric Buddhism triumph over shamanistic forces and the deities associated with them. Intricately carved with an incredible attention to detail, the plaques feature foliate, zoomorphic, and figural motifs: 3 depicting deities, 1 displaying a bird with a fish in its beak, and the last with a Dharmachakra beneath a stylized lotus flower. Size of largest (deity w/ bell): 6.4" L x 1.6" W (16.3 cm x 4.1 cm); 6.5" H (16.5 cm) on included custom stand.
As noted above, all 5 of these ornaments have been crafted from human bones, which serve as a symbolic reminder of the Buddhist concept of universal impermanence - e idea that nothing lasts forever and that all living beings eventually face death. These bones, including skulls and other skeletal remains, are typically gathered from celestial burial sites. One such funerary practice, known as bya gtor (meaning "by the birds"), involves placing human corpses on mountaintops - often within designated charnel grounds (durto) - where they are left exposed to the elements or consumed by vultures. This method is widely practiced in Tibet for both religious and practical reasons. According to Vajrayana Buddhism, the spirit departs from the body after death, rendering the physical remains empty and available for the most selfless form of disposal: nourishing other living beings. Additionally, the harsh, frozen terrain of the Tibetan plateau makes traditional burials difficult, while the scarcity of trees limits the possibility of cremation. Some accounts suggest that once the flesh has decomposed or been eaten, the bones are crushed and fed to animals. However, other reports indicate that bones often remain intact on the durto. These open burial sites make it relatively easy to collect skeletal remains for the creation of ritual objects. The practice of bya gtor varies in its execution, leading to discrepancies among sources regarding its details. Furthermore, identifying the specific individuals to whom the bones once belonged is nearly impossible. That said, religious texts prescribe particular types of bones for different ritual instruments. For instance, the thod-rnga, or damaru (a two-headed drum), is believed to be most potent when made from the skullcaps of a 16-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl.
Near complete rus rgyans or tantric dance aprons can be found at the Musee d'ethnographie de Geneve (MEG Inv. ETHAS 025404) and the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco (B60M101).
This item cannot be shipped to Georgia, Louisiana, or Tennessee. Please be advised that international shipping may have additional restrictions on some material, such as human bone. It is the customer's responsibility to be aware of their own local laws.
Provenance: private Pasadena, California, USA collection; ex-private Los Angeles, California, USA estate collection, formed between 1970 and 2000
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#191545
- Condition: Some abrasions to surface, but otherwise, all are intact and in overall excellent condition with good remaining detail and nice patina throughout. All mounted to custom wooden stands or plaques.
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