Two pieces of Tibetan ritual aprons - Lot 365

Two pieces of Tibetan ritual aprons Bones Tibet, 16th/17th century H. 13 and 11.5 cm These two trapezoidal bone elements, carved with dancing citipatis (skeletal protective deities), are part of a Tibetan ritual apron. Composed of multiple carved bone elements like these, ritual aprons were used in Tibetan tantric practices. This element of ritual finery, whose name means "infinite meditation", was part of a set (rüpe'i gyen) comprising a tiara, armbands, bracelets, anklets, skirt and rosaries. The fierce deities and citipatis, or representations of elements such as charnel houses and human body parts, often found in Tibetan art, are perceived and used by the tantric yogi as a support for meditation and a tool on the path to pure perception of things. For a well-documented article on Tibetan ritual ornaments, see Jean-Luc Estournel, "Rus-pa'i-rgyan - Parures rituelles tibétaines en os humain", Revue de l'Institut National d'Histoire de l'Art, 1992.