Untitled

Unknown

17th century · Brass with pigment · Asian Art

A dramatically poised Indian yogi kneels on a flayed buffalo skin and holds aloft a skull cup. He is likely the mahasiddha Kapalapa (“Skull-cup Bearer”), one of the Indian eccentric yogis and practitioners of Tantrism so revered in the Tibetan Vajrayana tradition. This icon likely portrays a Dzogchen master of the Nyingma order who practiced as an ascetic yogi.

Artist

Unknown

Date

17th century

Medium

Brass with pigment

Culture

Tibet

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Purchase, Florence and Herbert Irving Gift and funds from various donors, 2004