{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O24817"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O24817/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9827/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9827/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AK9827","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O24817/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O24817","accessionNumber":"IM.172-1913","objectType":"Mask","titles":[{"title":"Bhairava","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Bhairava, Siva's dreadful and vilant emanation, reposse copper with gilding and paint, and inset with stones, Malla period, Katmandu, Nepal, 17th century.","physicalDescription":"Bhairava, Siva's dreadful and violent ugra emanation.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"copper","id":"AAT11020"}],"techniques":[{"text":"repousse","id":"AAT54023"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Repousse copper, with gilding and paint, reverse-painted rock crystal (red), carnelian and coloured glass (in imitation of emeralds, turquoises and lapis lazuli[?])","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Bronze","id":"THES49033"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"}],"styles":[{"text":"Malla","id":"AAT18828"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AK9827"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"17","id":"THES49859"},"free":"","case":"CA005","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Mask","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Nepal","id":"x30053"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"17th century","earliest":"1600-01-01","latest":"1700-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased from the dealer Imre Schwaiger, Esq., 39, Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, W","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"68.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"63.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Imre Leonard Schwaiger was a well-respected dealer in gems, jewellery and eastern works of art. He was of Hungarian descent and, as a young man, he travelled to India where he became expert in appraising them, later becoming the foremost dealer and agent in such objects.\r\nHe built up a list of important clients and was friends with Jacques Cartier, looking after Cartier's interests in Delhi and acting as the company's agent in the purchase of gems, jewellery and objets d'art. Schwaiger was also responsible for introducing Cartier to all of the maharajas and other royals during his visit to India for the Dehi Durbar in 1911.\r\nImre Schwaiger developed a close working relationship with both the Victoria & Albert Museum and the British Museum, assisting them with a number of acquisitions. He also generously donated a number of valuable objects to both institutions.\r\n\r\nPurchased from the dealer Imre Schwaiger, Esq., 39, Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, W. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.\r\n\r\nRP 1912-3057M","historicalContext":"Bhairava is a wrathful and vengeful aspect of Siva.  The image is adorned with skulls, snakes form his earrings and necklace and his hair rises in a flame like nimbu.  This is a large scale image, richly decorated with inlaid stones intended for public worship; it has a small opening at the mouth through which blessed liquids were poured for the benefit of devotees.  The cult of Bhairava worship is widely practised in Nepal.  Once a year, to mark the indra-jatra festival, a major image of the Bhairava in the Hanuman Dhoka, Kathmandu, is exposed for public worship.","briefDescription":"Bhairava mask, repoussé copper with gilding and paint, set with rock crystal, carnelian and coloured glass, Nepal, 17th century, Malla period","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Tibetan art / John Lowry. London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1973","id":"AUTH344050"},"details":"p. 39, pl. 14","free":"\r\nGuy, John: 'Indian Temple Sculpture', London, V & A Publication, 2007, p.133, pl.149.\r\nISBN 9781851775095."},{"reference":{"text":"Ayers, J. Oriental Art in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London 1983, ISBN 0-85667-120-7","id":"AUTH347571"},"details":"p. 90","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Clarke, John;  The New Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation Galleries of Buddhist Art at the Victoria and Albert Museum,\r\nOrientations; vol. 48. no. 5,  September/October 2017, p. 68, fig. 8."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Hindu","id":"AAT73727"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Bhairava Mask\r\n1600–1700\r\nMalla period\r\nThe worship of Bhairava, an angry, vengeful manifestation\r\nof Shiva, is still important in Nepal. Snakes form his\r\nearrings and encircle his neck, while skulls adorn his crown.\r\nHis hair is of stylised flames. This large image was used\r\nin public worship. Alcohol would be poured through the\r\nmouth from the rear. In drinking it, devotees would receive\r\nblessings from the god.\r\nRepoussé copper with gilding and paint, turquoises, rock crystal and\r\nsemi-precious stones\r\nNepal\r\nMuseum no. IM.172-1913","date":{"text":"14/06/2011","earliest":"2011-06-14","latest":"2011-06-14"}}],"partNumbers":["IM.172-1913"],"accessionNumberNum":"172","accessionNumberPrefix":"IM","accessionYear":1913,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-15","recordCreationDate":"2000-02-13","availableToBook":false}}