Untitled

Unknown

late 6th–7th century · Copper alloy, possibly brass · Asian Art

This object is from a rare group of early Brahmanical masks. The small fangs seen rising from the corners of the open mouth and the exposed upper teeth identify this deity as Bhairava, a wrathful form of Shiva. Such masks were employed as temporary fixtures during worship and used to enliven processional icons in the Brahmanical cultures of northwestern India and the territories of Gandhara in Pakistan.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 6th–7th century

Medium

Copper alloy, possibly brass

Culture

India (Jammu and Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir)

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Purchase, Bobbie Falk Gift, in honor of Robert Falk, 2013