This is a genuine human skull embellished in the Tibetan Tantric tradition. This rare Dharma item is a Tantric ritual skull that serves as an offering vessel for the Tantric Buddhist religion. It is made from the actual human skull of a Buddhist monk. The eight auspicious symbols are carved into the top of the skull. The eyes are red coral and the rest is adorned with nickel, silver and turquoise. When used, the skullcap was removed and filled with a wine and blood mixture representing "immortality." Then, in an offering by worshipers to the fierce Tantric deities of Hindu India and Buddhist Tibet the liquid was consumed by the monks. These are extremely difficult to acquire today as Nepal has strict laws against their export.
The significance of this implement and practice is to reinforce the Buddhist concept of the impermanence of life, and the insignificance of the body once it is no longer used by the living. The skulls themselves are reputed to be those of monks, whose bodies continue to serve the cause of Buddhism even in death. They are used as ritual containers for sacred food and drink, as receptacles for prayers (creating a link between the deceased monk and the prayer itself), and as magical/divination devices.
This example is from the estate of a local ethnographer who spent many years living among and researching Tibetan culture. Here it served a dual purpose, both as a cultural artifact of the Tibetan Highlands, and as a study aid for students of forensic anthropology who were learning the identifying characteristics of bones (as well as cultural alteration practices).
This skull is embellished with nickle, which matches very nicely with the chocolate-brown tint of the bone. The positioning of the eyes is excellent, with a near-perfect forward gaze (often these skulls appear cross-eyed or wall-eyed). The facial structure is also excellent, with no deformations, and with a strikingly handsome symmetry. Judging by the dryness and overall even patina of the bone, I'd say this is a rather old skull. Overall, this is an excellent and old specimen that is worthy of the best collections. These items are quite rare, and even considering this, I would judge this particular skull to be better than most.
