Flaming Trident (Primary Title)
Unknown (Artist)
This striking ritual implement resembles both Yama Dharmaraja’s skull-headed club and Chaumundi’s trident. Within its toothy, grinning skull is an object that rattles when the scepter is handled. Its most intriguing aspect, though, is the form of the skull’s reverse side. Unmistakably phallic, it is a reminder that sex and death are inextricably conjoined. Sex defeats death through reproduction, which in turn ensures death’s triumph. As this object so simply illustrates, one is the flipside of the other.
Gift of the Zimmerman Family Partners in honor of Joe Dye on the occasion of VMFA's 75th Anniversary
Awaken: A Tibetan Buddhist Journey toward Enlightenment, VMFA, Richmond, April 20-August 14, 2019; Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, January 17 – November 29, 2020; Rubin Museum of Art, New York, March 12, 2021 – January 2, 2022
"Art of the Himalayas: Treasures from Nepal and Tibet," Neward Museum of Art 5 January - 1 March 1992; Portland Art Museum 29 March - 24 May 1992; Pheonix Art Museum 21 June - 16 August 1992; Frick foundation , Pittsburgh 18 September - 8 November 1992; VMFA 28 febrauary - 24 April 1993; Bowers Museum 22 May - 31 July 1993; Tampa Museum of Art 5 September - 31 October 1993
"Art of the Himalayas: Treasures from Nepal and Tibet," Neward Museum of Art 5 January - 1 March 1992; Portland Art Museum 29 March - 24 May 1992; Pheonix Art Museum 21 June - 16 August 1992; Frick foundation , Pittsburgh 18 September - 8 November 1992; VMFA 28 febrauary - 24 April 1993; Bowers Museum 22 May - 31 July 1993; Tampa Museum of Art 5 September - 31 October 1993
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.