Antique Tibetan Bronze Incense Burner - Tibet 19th century, bronze from lost-wax form, fire-gilded, cast as a table top burner shaped as the head of the wrathful deity Mahakala with fierce expression, an open mouth, flaming eyebrows and a third eye (''wisdom eye'') in the centre of his forehead set with glass cabochons, formerly partly painted, worn, soldered stand, measures: c. 17cm x 16cm, weight c.539g, very good condition - Dharmapala Mahakala is believed to be the fierce manifestation of Avalokiteshvara ,the bodhisattva of Compassion, and a protector of the Buddhist religious law. According to Buddhism, Mahakala is able to guide and free the believer's spirit, providing him with wisdom, his aggressive attitude is necessary to overcome obstacles and negativities one faces on the path to enlightenment. Originally a Hindu warrior deity named Mahakala, a fearsome emanation of Shiva, but later adopted into the Buddhist pantheon.