19th Century Tibetan Wrathful Shrine Doors at Rubin Museum

The Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art holds a set of shrine doors from the Kham region of Eastern Tibet, dating to approximately the 19th century. Created from wood, cloth, pigments, gesso, and varnish, these doors were likely placed at the entrance to a protector's shrine or gonkhang. The fierce imagery probably depicts the protector Mahakala, known as 'Great Black One,' featuring a crown of five skulls that symbolizes the conversion of five poisons into five wisdoms. This artifact was donated by Bob and Lois Baylis and is part of the museum's collection under accession number C2014.3a-h, illustrating the wrathful iconography common in Himalayan art.