Ritual bone crown, Tibet, late 19th/early 20th century Consisting of five large plaques, four of which depict a skull (citipati) and the fifth the face of a deity, all surmounted by scrolls, alternating with four small square plaques carved with a flower. The plaques are linked together by chains of pearls and sewn onto a strip of purple silk with tabs at the ends (to be tied around the head). The upper part of one plate is missing. L. 38 cm- H. 16 cm This headdress crowns or was part of the ritual paraphernalia worn by the officiant of certain Tantric Buddhist ceremonies, along with the apron.