Curved Knife | Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art

Rubin Museum of Art

Art 43

A large, open-mouthed, blue figure wearing a large black cloak sits at center, surrounded by a ring of flames. Burning figures populate the lower register, some trampling humans. More figures sit among clouds in the sky depicted at the upper regist

“Cloud Faced” Black Cloak Mahakala

Tibet, 16th-17th century

Thangka scroll painting of a wrathful flame-wreathed deity seated on a lotus base against a black background.

Black Cloak Mahakala Bernagchen

USA, 2000

Thangka mandala painting centered on a red female deity within a temple structure, surrounded by concentric protective rings, with seated teachers above and small deity figures in the corners.

Vajrayogini in the Pure Realm of Khechara

Kham region, eastern Tibet, 19th century

Thangka painting of a red goddess Vajrayogini wearing a bone garland, within a scrolling flame-patterned arch, flanked by lamas seated on clouds above and pink flowering plants below.

Kham region, eastern Tibet, late 19th century

A detailed painting showing multiple deities, with a central seated figure and consort above and a fierce multi-armed deity and consort dancing within a ring of flames below. Other smaller deities in various poses are arranged around the three largest deities.

Peaceful and Wrathful Deities of the Bardo

Central Tibet, 17th - 18th century

Four-Armed Mahakala

Tibet, 18th century

Tibet, 20th century

Mongolia, ca. 19th century

Vajrabhairava with Consort Vajravetali

Mongolia, 18th - 19th century

Vajradhara and the Great Adepts (Mahasiddhas)

Kham region, eastern Tibet, late 18th-early 19th century

Tibet, 19th century

Nepal, Dated by inscription, 1822

Bhutan, possibly Punakha Dzong, Mid-19th century

Tibet, 19th century

Tibet, 17th century

Tibet, 17th century