Tibetan Rus Rgyan Bone Plaque of Dancing Citipati

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Fine Antiquities, Asian, Ethno, Fine Art

By Artemis Fine Arts

May 1, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-05-01 10:00:00 2025-05-01 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities, Asian, Ethno, Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-asian-ethno-fine-art-19334
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• Lot Description
  Central Asia, Tibet, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A carved bone plaque known as a rus rgyan, likely fashioned from either human bone or that of a large ungulate such as a yak. Slightly curved in form, the piece features intricate openwork carving depicting a pair of dancing citipati skeletons - symbolic guardians in Tibetan iconography - beneath a mantra symbol positioned above their heads. The rus rgyan is traditionally worn as a form of spiritual armor, believed to aid Tantric practitioners in overcoming shamanic influences and subduing the deities tied to those belief systems. Often referred to in Western scholarship as a "tantric apron," it was worn by ritual specialists and used in esoteric dance ceremonies central to Vajrayana Buddhist practice. Size: 7.75" L x 1.5" W (19.7 cm x 3.8 cm)Size: 7.75" L x 1.5" W (19.7 cm x 3.8 cm)
  
  As noted above, this was probably crafted from human bone, which serve as a symbolic reminder of the Buddhist concept of universal impermanence - an idea that nothing lasts forever and that all living beings eventually face death. These bones, including skulls and other skeletal remains, are typically gathered from celestial burial sites. One such funerary practice, known as bya gtor (meaning "by the birds"), involves placing human corpses on mountaintops - often within designated charnel grounds (durto) - where they are left exposed to the elements or consumed by vultures. This method is widely practiced in Tibet for both religious and practical reasons. According to Vajrayana Buddhism, the spirit departs from the body after death, rendering the physical remains empty and available for the most selfless form of disposal: nourishing other living beings. Additionally, the harsh, frozen terrain of the Tibetan plateau makes traditional burials difficult, while the scarcity of trees limits the possibility of cremation. Some accounts suggest that once the flesh has decomposed or been eaten, the bones are crushed and fed to animals. However, other reports indicate that bones often remain intact on the durto. These open burial sites make it relatively easy to collect skeletal remains for the creation of ritual objects. The practice of bya gtor varies in its execution, leading to discrepancies among sources regarding its details. Furthermore, identifying the specific individuals to whom the bones once belonged is nearly impossible. That said, religious texts prescribe particular types of bones for different ritual instruments. For instance, the thod-rnga, or damaru (a two-headed drum), is believed to be most potent when made from the skullcaps of a 16-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl.
  
  Near complete rus rgyans or tantric dance aprons can be found at the Musee d'ethnographie de Geneve (MEG Inv. ETHAS 025404) and the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco (B60M101).
  
  This item cannot be shipped to Georgia, Louisiana, or Tennessee. Please be advised that international shipping may have additional restrictions on some material, such as human bone. It is the customer's responsibility to be aware of their own local laws.
  
  Provenance: private Los Angeles, California, USA collection, acquired in the 1980s
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
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  #193467

  Condition

  Nice patina throughout. Intact and good condition. Verso has some wax and encrustations.
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