Naro Dakini

Central Tibet
mid-18th century
Gilt copper alloy; attributes, crown and mandorla of gilt copper repouseé; coral and turquoise insets; separately worked silver skulls
The Alice S. Kandell Collection, S2013.22a-1

Dakinis are enlightened beings who fly through the sky. Both beautiful and fearsome, they wield a sharp knife to cut through ignorance. They are often depicted energetically extending one leg as they raise the opposite arm in a posture that signifies their semi-wrathful nature. This dakini with a crown and staff adorned with skulls might be Vajrayogini, a goddess whom Tibetan Buddhists consider to be a particularly wise and powerful emanation of the Buddha.