Bhairava

Object Details

• Description

  Standing in the dynamic, diagonal pose known as the hunter's strance (pratyalidha), Bhairava, a fierce manifestation of the Hindu god Shiva, has three menacing heads and six hands, five of which brandish weapons. Somewhat surprisingly, the sixth hand holds a full-blown lotus stem complete with leaves. Each scowling face has three round bulging eyes, an open mouth displaying fangs, and a trim beard delineated in the fashion typical of Nepalese imagery. On each head, the bristling hair is held into place by a five-lobed crown decorated with human skulls. The god's robust body is ornamented with a range of twisted serpents which serve as earrings, bracelets, and anklets, while a knotted serpent also serves as the sacred thread (yajnopavita) draped over his broad chest and ample belly. Bhairava's signature apparel, a tiger skin with engraved tufts of fur, is his only garment; in addition he wears an openwork ritual apron composed of human bones, with bone swags that sway to either side of his body and accentuate his vigorous, heroic movement.

• Label

  Standing in the dynamic, diagonal pose known as the hunter's stance (pratyalidha), Bhairava, a fierce manifestation of the Hindu god Shiva, is one of the most important deities of Nepal, sacred to Hindus and Buddhists alike. Each of his three scowling faces has round bulging eyes, an open mouth displaying fangs, and a trim beard, while his six hands brandish weapons. His robust body is ornamented with a range of twisted serpents, which serve as earrings, bracelets, anklets, and sacred thread (yajnopavita). He wears a tiger skin and a ritual apron composed of human bones.

  The image is made by the complex technique called repoussé, in which a copper sheet is cold-hammered alternately from front and back to achieve the desired form. The image is constructed of more than twenty separately made parts. It was then covered with mercury gilding, and during worship it would have received applications of turmeric and vermilion.

• Provenance

  ?-1964

  Doris Wiener Gallery, New York, NY, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  1964-at least 1974

  Stuart Cary Welch (1928-2008), purchased from the Doris Wiener Gallery in New York, NY [2]

  At least 1974-?

  Ownership information unknown

  ?-1999

  Doris Wiener Gallery, New York, NY, method of acquisition unknown [3]

  From 1999

  National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, purchased from the Doris Wiener Gallery [4]

  Notes:

  [1] See acquisition justification, dated January 30, 1999, copy in object file. See also Pratapaditya Pal, “Nepal: Where the Gods are Young” [exhibition catalogue], (New York, NY: The Asia Society, 1975), cat. 66, pp. 99, 128-129, illustrated. The acquisition justification states that this object was sold in New York in 1964 to Stuart Cary Welch by

  Doris Wiener; it was subsequently published in the exhibition catalogue “Nepal: Where the Gods are Young” (1975) as catalogue number 66. In the exhibition catalogue the object is described as having been “Lent anonymously.”

  Doris Wiener Gallery in New York, NY specialized in the sale of Indian and southeast Asian art. Founder Doris Wiener (1922-2011), first traveled to India and Southeast Asia in 1966 and began exhibiting and selling art from those regions in the late 1960s. Since her death in 2011, there have been allegations that Weiner trafficked in antiquities.

  It can be determined that Doris Wiener and her husband, the jeweler Edward ‘Ed’ Wiener (1918-1991), maintained joint gallery spaces in Provincetown, MA, and New York, NY, until 1965 , when the Provincetown location closed. See Annette Juliano, “Antiques Notebook: An American Collector’s Exotic Cache” [magazine article], from “Architectural Digest,” April 1984, pp. 214, 218, 222. See also Irma M. Ruckstuhl and Claire Sprague, “The Jeweler's Art: Four Provincetown Silversmiths, 1940s-1960s” [exhibition catalogue], (Provincetown, MA: Provincetown Art Association and Museum, 2003), pp. 7-8, 22.

  [2] See note 1. See also Asia House Gallery, The Asia Society, Inc., “Loan Agreement” form, dated February 20, 1974, copy in object file, from the Rockefeller Archive Center, Sleepy Hallow, NY, Asia Society collection, Asia Society records, Exhibitions and Events, Series 3, Gallery Files, Subseries 1, Nepal – Loan Agreements, 1975 September-November, Box 229, Folder 2641The “Loan Agreement” form for the “Nepal: Where the Gods are Young” exhibition identifies Professor Stuart C. Welch as the owner of this object.

  Stuart Cary Welch (1928-2008) was a scholar, connoisseur, and collector of Islamic and Indian art. His wife Edith Iselin Welch (1931-2009) shared his passion for art and collecting. Welch had a lifelong professional affiliation with Harvard Art Museums and was a professor at Harvard University until his retirement in 1995. In 2011, Sotheby's London held a two-part sale of Welch's collection, followed by "The Edith and Stuart Cary Welch Collection" sale in 2023.

  [3] See “Incoming Receipt,” dated January 26, 1999, copy in object file. The object was transferred from Doris Wiener Gallery to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery for acquisition consideration on January 26, 1999.

  See also object file for copy of the “Doris Wiener, Inc.” invoice to the Arthur M. Sacker Gallery, dated April 19, 1999. Object is described as, “Bhairava [/] Gilt copper repoussé and polychrome [/] Nepal, 15th-16th century [/] 42 cm.”

  [4] See the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, “Acquisition Consideration Form,” approved on April 2, 1999, copy in object file.

  From 1999-2023, the object was part of the National Museum of Asian Art’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection and on March 21, 2023, the work was internally transferred to the National Museum of Asian Art Collection.

  Research updated October 17, 2024

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Sculpture of South Asia and the Himalayas (May 4, 1988 to July 9, 2017)

  Nepal: Where the Gods are Young (1975)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Doris Wiener Gallery (active at least 1962-2011)

  Stuart Cary Welch (1928-2008)

  Doris Wiener Gallery (active at least 1962-2011)

• Origin

  Nepal

• Credit Line

  Purchase — funds provided by the Friends of the National Museum of Asian Art

• Type

  Sculpture

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1590s, 1400s

• Name

  Doris Wiener Gallery, Welch, Stuart Cary

• Place

  Nepal

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Art, Lotus, Shiva, Snakes, Metal-work

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians, Hindus

• Object Type

  Sculpture