Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Source Description
Blown during tantric Buddhist rituals, this ritual instrument is made of bone to remind practitioners of the impermanence of the corporeal body. The horn is sounded to clear away obstacles to enlightenment, conceived as enemies in battle.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
98697
label
Thighbone Trumpet
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
98697
contentType
object
title
Thighbone Trumpet
description
Blown during tantric Buddhist rituals, this ritual instrument is made of bone to remind practitioners of the impermanence of the corporeal body. The horn is sounded to clear away obstacles to enlightenment, conceived as enemies in battle.
date
c. 1800
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q79485388
genreSpecific
Musical Instrument
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 7 cm (2 3/4 in.)
cul
Tibet
accession
1918.389
Source extras
tec
bone, leather, and copper alloy
tombstone
Thighbone Trumpet, c. 1800. Tibet. Bone, leather, and copper alloy; overall: 7 cm (2 3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Charles G. King Jr. collection; Gift of Ralph King in memory of Charles G. King Jr., 1918.389
collection
Tibetan Art
didYouKnow
Tantric ritual trumpets are traditionally made from human femurs, but now they can be made from plastic, metal, or other materials.
citations
citation
"Accessions." <em>The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art</em> 5, no. 8/9 (1918): 82-85.
page_number
Mentioned: p. 82
citation
D. S. M. "Exhibition of Musical Instruments." <em>The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art</em> 8, no. 9 (1921): 134-43.
page_number
Mentioned: pp. 134-137
creditline
The Charles G. King Jr. collection; Gift of Ralph King in memory of Charles G. King Jr.
updatedAt
2026-05-29 05:19:52.584000
sourceId
98697
dept
Indian and Southeast Asian Art
coll
Tibetan Art
med
bone, leather, and copper alloy
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
f2bd287b8f4a429c