Mask of Bhairava

India (Jammu and Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir)

late 6th–7th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 237

This object is from a rare group of early Brahmanical masks. The small fangs seen rising from the corners of the open mouth and the exposed upper teeth identify this deity as Bhairava, a wrathful form of Shiva. Such masks were employed as temporary fixtures during worship and used to enliven processional icons in the Brahmanical cultures of northwestern India and the territories of Gandhara in Pakistan.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Mask of Bhairava
Date: late 6th–7th century
Culture: India (Jammu and Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir)
Medium: Copper alloy, possibly brass
Dimensions: H. 7 5/8 in. (19.4 cm); W. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm); D. 2 3/8 in. (6 cm)
Classification: Sculpture
Credit Line: Purchase, Bobbie Falk Gift, in honor of Robert Falk, 2013
Object Number: 2013.249
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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