NEPAL, CIRCA XVEME SIECLE

Helmet-shaped crowns of this type are worn by Nepalese Vajracharyas, tantric Buddhist ritual masters, when performing deity initiation ceremonies, fire ceremonies, and other rituals; compare another example at the Jacques Marchais Museum, in B. Lipton, Treasures of Tibetan Art,l,1996, cat. no. 132. See a very close example sold at Christie's New York, 21 March 2008, lot 695.