Dakini dance mask. Ladak or Tibet, northern Himalayas.

Dakini dance mask. Ladak or Tibet, northern Himalayas.
Copper embossed, chiseled and gilded with mercury.
Appearance of the dance of the Dakinis.
Provenance: Eric Chazot, Galerie Nysa, Paris / Former collection of Gerard Wahl-dit-Boyer.
Liliane et Michel Durand-Dessert.
Bibliography: Himalayas - Art et Shamans -Eric Chazot/Liliane et Michel Durand-Dessert Editions
LMDD, 2009 N° 70.
Measurements: 31,5 x 25,5 cm (mask).

This mask, coming from the northern Himalayas (specifically from regions such as Ladakh or Tibet) is a ceremonial piece of great artistic and spiritual value in the context of Tibetan Tantric Buddhism. Crafted in embossed and chiseled copper and gilded with mercury, it depicts figures associated with the Dakinis, female entities that embody enlightened energy and wisdom in the Vajray?na.

The Dakinis are central figures in Tibetan Tantric Buddhism, considered manifestations of wisdom and enlightened feminine energy. They are often depicted in ritual dances symbolizing spiritual transformation and overcoming worldly attachments. These dances, performed during religious festivals, use masks like the one shown here to represent the Dakinis and other deities.

The mask is made of copper using embossing and chiseling techniques, and then gilded with mercury, a traditional technique that involves applying an amalgam of gold and mercury to the metal and then heating it so that the mercury evaporates, leaving a layer of gold adhering to it. This process was common in the creation of ritual objects due to the durability and luster of the resulting gold.

These masks were used in ritual dances during religious festivals in Buddhist monasteries in the Himalayas. The monks, by wearing the masks and performing the dances, embodied the Dakinis, facilitating a connection between the human and the divine, and allowing participants and spectators to experience a spiritual transformation.

Similar pieces are preserved in museum collections specializing in Asian and Buddhist art, such as the Rubin Museum of Art in New York or the Musée Guimet in Paris. These institutions house masks and ritual objects that offer a deep insight into the spiritual and artistic practices of the Himalayas.