brass, rest., base

Bhairava is a wrathful aspect of the god Shiva and the face impressively reflects this aspect of the god. The large mouth is open, the teeth and the large fangs bared. The mark on the forehead symbolises the third eye.

The head was probably placed on a staff during processions or in the sanctuary of a temple, as indicated by the slender neck of the mask.
H: 24,5 cm, H: 9,6 inch

Provenance:
Hans Kaufmann, Vienna, Austria
Zemanek-Münster, Würzburg, 3 March 2012, Lot 15
Werner Zintl, Worms, Germany

Lit.: Mallebrein, Cornelia, Die Anderen Götter, Köln 1993, p. 304, ill. 229

See description