ANTIQUE BRONZE ALLOY KAPALA SHAPED OFFERING BOWL – TIBET – 19th C.

OLD BRONZE ALLOY KAPALA SHAPED OFFERING BOWL - NEPAL OR TIBET - SECOND HALF 20th C.

These two offering bowls originate from Nepal (mid 20^th C) and Tibet (19^th C).

These small sized bowls show the shape of a kapala, probably commissioned by lamas who traveled extensively and who could access it easily, along with their gau, while journeying between monasteries.

The sanskrit word Kapala means skull and is a human skull used as a ritual implement in both Hindu and Buddhist Tantra. Ritual skull cups are traditionally formed from a human skull that has been cut into shape, lined with a metal rim and usually elaborately decorated with artistic designs and Buddhist symbols or mounted with precious metals and jewels. Many are fitted with ornamented lids and have feet or a separate base. Many kapalas are simply created in the form of a cranium from other materials such as copper, bronze, precious metal and so on.

The kapalas were usually made from skulls collected at sky burial sites, an ancient Tibetan burial custom, in which the bodies of the dead are dismembered and scattered over open ground to “give alms to the birds”. It is a ritual that has a great religious meaning of the ascent of the soul to be reincarnated into another circle of life. After the death, a lama reads from the Bardo Todol (The Tibetan Book of the Dead) for three to five days, to give the soul time to get out of the body. On the day itself, the ragyabas transport the body to an open spot before sunrise, where it is cut into pieces and fed to the vultures. Once collected, the skulls would be specially prepared and elaborately anointed and consecrated before use. It would then be decorated or carved before being used as a ritual implement. The skull cup serves as a constant reminder of death and impermanence.

In Tibetan monasteries, the kapala was used to hold dough cakes or wine, used symbolically as flesh and blood offerings to wrathful deities. The skull cup, when used as libation to gods and deities to win their favour, is usually held in the left "wisdom" hand while it may be paired with the right hand implements such as the vajra or curved knife (kartika). Kapalas were also used in rituals like higher tantric meditation to achieve a transcendental state of thought and mind as offering bowls on the altar or as eating or drinking bowls. It was believed that the people who drank out of the skull caps would obtain the knowledge and personality from the person to whom the skull belonged.

Age: a) (yellow coloured bronze) second half 20 th C.

     b) (dark coloured bronze) 19 th C.

Size and weight: a) 8 cm x 5.3 cm x 2.3 cm. Weight: 95 gr.

b) 8.4 cm x 6 cm x 2.8 cm. Weight: 146 gr.

Condition: These objects are in good condition taking into account their high age. Good patina and signs of high age and long time ritual use. Look carefully to the pictures which are an integral part of the description. Consequently any damage or repair to the object not mentioned in the text, but visible in the photos, are considered to be described.

The description and explanation of the item have been made in good faith and to the best of my knowledge. The dimensions are measured manually and are therefore approximate. Colors may differ slightly from the original colors. This is a private sale as I am not a professional seller; I am a collector who liquidates his collection. Therefore, I do not accept returns unless in very exceptional cases. In any case, the return costs are to be paid by the buyer. I hope you will understand this. Please don’t hesitate to request before purchasing all information you need. Your satisfaction and positive feedback is very important to me. If you have any problems with the item or services, please feel free to contact me first before you leave negative feedback. I will do my best to solve any problems.

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