Bone Ornament Item Number: 2664/2 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Tibetan ritual bone ornaments are known as rus rgyan (སྣམ་བུ). It is a chest cover made of bone plaques and beads, and turquoise glass beads strung on fabric cords ending with flat copper bells. Central plaques each have Buddha images. Some cords fastened with black wax seals. Iridescent turquoise beads above shoulders of upper Buddha.
History Of Use
Ritual bone objects such as bone bead aprons, breast covers and ornaments are worn as funerary dancing clothes in Tibetan Buddhism.
Cultural Context
Ritual objects made both from human and animal bones are a distinctive feature of Tibetan tantric Buddhism. To Tibetans, bones serve as a reminder of life’s brevity and the inevitability of death. Bones have additional symbolic dimensions.
Item History
- Made in Tibet
- Collected before 1947
- Owned by Andrew Donald before September 9, 2005
- Received from Andrew Donald (Donor) on September 9, 2005
What
- Name
- Bone Ornament
- Identification Number
- 2664/2
- Type of Item
- ornament
- Material
- water buffalo bone, glass, fibre and copper metal
- Overall
- height 58.0 cm, width 20.0 cm, depth 1.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Tibetan
- Previous Owner
- Andrew Donald
- Received from
- Andrew Donald (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Tibet
When
- Collection Date
- before 1947
- Ownership Date
- before September 9, 2005
- Acquisition Date
- on September 9, 2005
Other
- Item Classes
- beadwork
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 2664/0002