Tantric Rug with Two Flayed Male Figures
Woolen rugs form an important part of Tibetan material culture, serving as floor coverings on beaten earth floors for warmth, and as saddle blankets for riding. They also provide the setting for some of the most dramatic imagery in Tibetan art. The design of flayed male figures forms part of the paraphernalia employed to invoke protective deities. Such rugs feature in the annual New Year’s Eve exorcism dance performance (Tse Gutor, rtse dgu gtor), performed by masked dancers to cleanse the past year’s sins in preparation for the new.
Artwork Details
- Title: Tantric Rug with Two Flayed Male Figures
- Date: 18th–19th century
- Culture: Tibet
- Medium: Wool, cotton, and dye
- Dimensions: 65 1/2 × 32 in. (166.4 × 81.3 cm)
- Classification: Textiles-Rugs
- Credit Line: Gift of Steven Kossak, The Kronos Collections, 2022
- Object Number: 2022.431.2
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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Tibet
18th century
Central Tibet
1450–1500
Unidentified artist
15th century
Returned to lender
Taglung Tangpa Chenpo
last quarter 13th century
China
ca. 1330–32
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