Skull offering bowl, Qing dynasty (1644-1911)

Skull offering bowl, Qing dynasty (1644-1911)

• Image Number: K1D000482N000000000PAB
• Dynasty: Qing dynasty
• Category: Miscellaneous objects
• Function: Magic instrument
• Material: Animal/bone/
• Description:
  Skull bowl with yellowish brown outer wall. The mouth margin and the inner wall are inlaid with gold and silver, and are pasted with a yellow sign: “On May 14, the 42nd year of Qianlong reign, I handed over a Gabla bowl, which is made of Sono wood.” The mouth margin is carved with patterns, inlaid with coral, turquoise, etc. Its patterns appear alternately with three stripes and twig flowers, which surround the mouth margin, and the turquoise and coral are inlaid in the center of the flower. The Gabla bowl is made from the skull of a person who made a vow before his death. After strict examination and approval by the Great Lama, it is made into a utensil and presented to the Buddha.