Nepalese Art in Foreign Museums(II)- Philadelphia Museum of Art

Face of Bhairava

Made in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Malla Period (1200-1769), c. 16th century

Artist/maker unknown, Nepal, Kathmandu Valley, Newar culture

Mercury-gilded copper alloy repoussé with rock crystal, paint, foil, and glass
29 x 25 x 18 inches (73.7 x 63.5 x 45.7 cm)

1998-77-1

Purchased with the Stella Kramrisch Fund, 1998
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Philadelphia Museum of Art maintains a decent online inventory of their assets. To view Nepalese art housed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art go to:
http://www.philamuseum.org/collections/search.html
and search for "Nepal".

Ghost???

Each person has their own idea of what the right thing is and each person thinks that their view is the point of equilibrium of all things. This idea of multiple middle paths so to speak is presented in the sculpture as the numerous balancing points it has. While each person's idea of the middle path is not entirely delusional, it definitely is far from the truth which is but one and which in that sculpture is represented by the point where all of the petals balance out. Further when a person who is comfortable in his own idea of the right thing sees another point further on in the sculpture and starts walking towards it, everything falls out of balance, the point where he had his nest starts to tip lower while the new point now seems harder to get at. The easier option for such a person will be to go back to his past and stay there while the one that takes him to another balancing point closer to the truth is a whole lot tougher.

http://www.philamuseum.org/collections/permanent/60736.html?mulR=18085