California Collectors's Nepalese Art at the Crocker Museum

THE SACRAMENTO BEE
By Victoria Dalkey

The gilt copper alloy plaque is from 17th century Nepal.

CALIFORNIA---A gilt copper cup made out of a real human skull is one of the rare and arcane objects included in "Celestial Realms: The Art of Nepal" at the Crocker Art Museum. The skull cup is a common attribute of numerous Buddhist and Hindu gods, goddesses and protective deities and would have been used in Tantric Buddhist worship as a container for offerings – in some cases, blood, meat or alcohol. Symbolizing the impermanence of life, skull cups demonstrate emptiness and are used for the purification of the ego. Drawn from private collections in California and the Crocker's permanent collection, more than half of the objects in the show have never before been on public display.[link]

Crocker Art Museum: "Celestial Realms: The Art of Nepal," (Ends Feb. 10). 216 O St., Sacramento, CA. More information: (916) 808-7000 or crockerartmuseum.org.