128 - Citipati mask-ornament, protective

Citipati mask-ornament, protective Embossed and gilded metal, traces of red ochre pigment, original patina, and signs of age. Tibet, 19th–20th century 23.6 x 23.5 cm Provenance, according to the information provided: former collection of Éric Chazot, Paris. The furrowed brow overlooks two deep eye sockets. The prominent cheekbones and open jaw revealing the teeth create a face where the solemnity of the skull blends with an almost playful expression. The border evokes stylized flames extended by volutes, whose gilding accentuates the curves. This depiction recalls the Citipati, the “Lords of the Cremation Grounds,” protectors depicted as two skeletons in Tibetan Tantric Buddhism. The flames may symbolize the wisdom that consumes ignorance, while the skull serves as a reminder of the impermanence of existence. General Bibliography Jeff Watt, “Buddhist Protector: Shmashana Adhipati (Chitipati),” Himalayan Art Resources.