201 - TIBET - 18th/19th century

TIBET - 18th/19th century Painted wooden lid depicting a scene evoking the underworld: a man being fought over by two reptilian creatures amid flames, framed by a frieze of kapalas and swirling flames. (Slight damage). 34.8 x 6.8 cm Provenance: - Ian Triay Collection In Tantric Buddhism (Vajrayana), the mahasiddhas—ascetics who often live according to moral codes that seemingly exclude them from society—occasionally dwell among human charnel grounds. Buddhist texts mention the offering of rugs made of human skin to the guardians of the doctrine (dharmapalas), and the use of such items may appear in the practice of the mahasiddhas. Most often, the object is merely visualized in tantric practice to evoke the concept of impermanence.