19th C. Himalayan Kirtimukha Repousse Maskette
Central Asia, Himalayas, Nepal or Tibet, ca. 1875–1960 CE. A grinning apotropaic face swells out of a thin brass disc, hammered from the reverse in repousse until nose, brow, and bulging eyes stand fully proud of the sheet. The bulbous nostrils flare above a wide mouth crowded with blunt teeth and rounded fangs; twin bosses at the cheeks and a third at the crown read as swollen eyes or jewels, and the flat, chin-less lower field is characteristic of the kirtimukha, the "face of glory" that devours all and is left with only a head. Small piercings around the rim show where the plaque was once nailed or lashed to a wooden ground, likely a temple door, shrine surround, or ritual furnishing. Green and cuprite-red corrosion mottles the surface, softening the hammered relief. Size: 1.2" H x 6.7" Diam (3.0 cm H x 17.0 cm Diam).
The kirtimukha, also called the kala head, enters Himalayan Buddhist and Hindu art from Indian precedent, where a myth in the Skanda Purana tells of a ravenous being created by Shiva to destroy an enemy. Deprived of its prey, it consumed its own body until only the face remained, and Shiva, delighted, ordered that it be set above every doorway as a guardian and a condition of entry. The devouring logic explains the form: a grin without a jaw, all teeth and appetite. In Nepalese and Tibetan practice the motif crowns torana arches, door lintels, mirror backs, and the tops of thangka mounts, screening the sacred interior from what should not pass. Sheet-metal versions such as this one were fixed to woodwork with small nails through the flange, the repousse work raised over pitch and finished with chased detail.
Provenance: private Saint Louis, Missouri, USA collection acquired between 1970 and 1995
SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700.
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.
Item #204664
Condition
Some chipping, small tears, and minor losses to edges. Slight bending to form and weathering to surface as shown. Otherwise, very nice with liberal remaining detail and rich patina.
Central Asia, Himalayas, Nepal or Tibet, ca. 1875–1960 CE. A grinning apotropaic face swells out of a thin brass disc, hammered from the reverse in repousse until nose, brow, and bulging eyes stand fully proud of the sheet. The bulbous nostrils flare above a wide mouth crowded with blunt teeth and rounded fangs; twin bosses at the cheeks and a third at the crown read as swollen eyes or jewels, and the flat, chin-less lower field is characteristic of the kirtimukha, the "face of glory" that devours all and is left with only a head. Small piercings around the rim show where the plaque was once nailed or lashed to a wooden ground, likely a temple door, shrine surround, or ritual furnishing. Green and cuprite-red corrosion mottles the surface, softening the hammered relief. Size: 1.2" H x 6.7" Diam (3.0 cm H x 17.0 cm Diam).
The kirtimukha, also called the kala head, enters Himalayan Buddhist and Hindu art from Indian precedent, where a myth in the Skanda Purana tells of a ravenous being created by Shiva to destroy an enemy. Deprived of its prey, it consumed its own body until only the face remained, and Shiva, delighted, ordered that it be set above every doorway as a guardian and a condition of entry. The devouring logic explains the form: a grin without a jaw, all teeth and appetite. In Nepalese and Tibetan practice the motif crowns torana arches, door lintels, mirror backs, and the tops of thangka mounts, screening the sacred interior from what should not pass. Sheet-metal versions such as this one were fixed to woodwork with small nails through the flange, the repousse work raised over pitch and finished with chased detail.
Provenance: private Saint Louis, Missouri, USA collection acquired between 1970 and 1995
SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700.
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.
Item #204664
Condition
Some chipping, small tears, and minor losses to edges. Slight bending to form and weathering to surface as shown. Otherwise, very nice with liberal remaining detail and rich patina.
