Image title: Figure 4.3.8: Apron of human and animal bone

[Figure 4.3.8]—Apron of human and animal bone at the Brooklyn Museum (23.289.27201) with detail of multiple carving campaigns from the upper register, proper left. Overall image by museum with detail by author, December 2012.

Gallery information:

These plates originate from the study “On the use of Human remains in Tibetan ritual objects” by Ayesha Fuentes. This dissertation examines the cultural history and material applications of human remains in Tibetan rituals, utilizing conservation, technical art history, and anthropology. It focuses on skulls, bone ornaments, and the rkang gling trumpet, investigating their use in Buddhist tantra and contemporary practices, while establishing a framework for understanding their evolving significance.