Teapot

ClassificationsFurnishings-Serviceware-vessels-teapots

Culture Tibetan

Date19th to 20th Century

Made AtTibet Autonomous Region, China, Asia

MediumHuman bone, metal and turquoise

Dimensions10 7/8 × 10 3/4 × 4 1/4 in. (27.6 × 27.3 × 10.8 cm)

Credit LineGift of Anne and Long Shung Shih

Object number2019.15.31

DescriptionThis is a Tibetan teapot made from bone and silver. Human bone was traditionally used as a medium for a variety of Tibetan objects, particularly drinking ware. In Tibetan vernacular kapala means skull or skullcup, as the body part was often used to create cups. Monasteries use kapalas to symbolically hold bread and wine instead of flesh and blood as offerings to deities. In a few rare instances two kapalas were adjoined using silver to create more complex form such as teapots. Given the Western style of this object, it was assuredly made for a non-traditional function.

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