Bhairava bronze mask

• Solid bronze Bhairava mask, manifestation of the wrathful form of Shiva, work from Nepal, circa 1900.
• H 36 cm x W 36 cm x H 11 cm
• Approximate weight 4 kilos
• Provenance: Estate of art dealer and collector Claude de Marteau.
• Sold with certificate.

Bhairava, wrathful deity, Newar ritual mask

A manifestation of the wrathful form of Shiva, Bhairava serves as a reminder that phenomenal existence must be overcome. The rendering of details is executed with care: large bulging eyes under furrowed brows, centered by the third eye on the forehead, flamboyant hair adorned with lotus motifs, as well as a necklace and earrings in the form of snakes.

Newar masks such as this one were not worn, but used during a festival dedicated to Indra, the Indra Jatra. A vessel containing beer or alcohol was placed behind the mask; the beverage then flowed through the deity’s open mouth and was consumed by devotees. These large mask-shaped sculptures constitute a characteristic expression of the Newar culture of Nepal.

Bhairava is also known as the one who destroys fear or who stands beyond fear. He protects his devotees from their enemies, but also from greed, lust, and anger. According to another interpretation, He is the one who creates, sustains, and dissolves the three stages of life, thus acquiring an ultimate and supreme dimension. He is worshipped in India, Nepal, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Japan, as well as in Tibetan Buddhism.