Plaque from a Tantric dancer's bone apron

DATE:: 16th century
MATERIAL AND TECHNIQUE:: Human bone
CLASSIFICATION:: Coins, Medallions and Plaques
DIMENSIONS:: 6 1/4 × 1 5/8 × 1 in. (15.88 × 4.13 × 2.54 cm)
DEPARTMENT:: Arts of Asia
LOCATION:: 305 BUDDHIST GALLERY
CREDIT LINE:: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of David T. Owsley
OBJECT NUMBER:: 2017.35.7

General Description

This small ivory piece was originally one of many plaques attached to the ceremonial regalia of a Himalayan monastic dancer. These plaques were decorated with the deities of Tantric Buddhism, like Mahakala, a wrathful deity. The monks performed sacred dances in which they communicated with the world of gods and spirits in a state of shamanic trance.

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