A MASSIVE AND FIERCE BRONZE MASK OF BHAIRAVA, 18TH CENTURY OR EARLIERNepal. The fierce manifestation of Shiva heavily cast with large bulging eyes beneath furled brows centered by the third eye visible on the forehead, the flaming hair with lotus decorations, wearing a necklace and earrings in the form of snakes.Provenance: British private collection. Condition: The bridge to the back of the mask with old repairs, the inlays are lost, otherwise in good condition with some wear, casting irregularities, and few minuscule nicks here and there. The patina has naturally grown into a deep brown, almost black color.Weight: 6.1 kg Dimensions: Height 34.5 cmNewari masks such as the present lot were also constructed in wood and terracotta. They were never actually worn but used during a special annual festival dedicated to Indra, the Indra Jatra. A pot of beer or spirits was placed behind each mask and the liquid then poured through the deity's open mouth. The consecrated beverage would then be consumed by participants of the festival with great enthusiasm. The custom of drinking as part of the Indra festival is peculiar to Nepal, and these large mask-like sculptures are unique to the country.Literature comparison: For further discussion on these masks, see Allsop, 1986, pp. 14-27. Also see Pal, 1991, no. 22 and Pal, 1997, no. 25.Auction result comparison: Compare with an earlier Bhairava mask of 89.5 cm at Sotheby's New York, in Indian & Southeast Asian Art, 1 April 2005, lot 69, sold for USD 30,000.十八世紀或更早陪臚銅面具 尼泊爾,憤怒的濕婆眉毛下方鼓起的大眼睛,頭頂上的第三隻眼睛在中央,燃燒的頭髮裝飾這蓮花。陪臚戴著項鍊和蛇形耳環。 來源:英國私人收藏. 品相:面具背面的連接進行過舊的修補,鑲嵌物丟失了。狀況良好,有一些磨損,鑄造不規則現象,到處都是很少的微小刻痕。 銅綠自然地變成了深棕色黑色。 重量:6.1 公斤 尺寸:高34.5厘米 拍賣結果比較:於2005年4月1日在紐約蘇富比Indian & Southeast Asian Art 拍場,與一具89.5厘米的陪臚銅面具比較,lot 69, 成交價USD 30,000。