Loading

Ritual skull cup

19th Century

MAS

MAS
Antwerp, Belgium

In Tibet the body is considered worthless without a soul. This gives rise to “sky burials” where bodies are dissected and placed on mountaintops to serve as food for vultures. Remaining skulls are used as ritual sacrificial dishes and drums while tibias and femurs serve as flutes. For special ceremonies, priests wear magnificently woven aprons made from human bones.

Show lessRead more
  • Title: Ritual skull cup
  • Date Created: 19th Century
  • Location: Tibet
  • Physical Dimensions: height: 11cm – width: 18.5cm – depth: 20cm
  • Subject Keywords: Ethnographic collection
  • Type: Dish
  • Medium: Brass
  • ID: AE.1960.0013.0001.1-3
  • Department: Ethnographic collection – Asia
  • Acquisition: Purchased from J. Scheins (1960)
MAS

Get the app

Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more

Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites