Ritual Flaying Knife (Kartrika)
17th/18th century
Medium
Gilt iron
Dimensions
18.4 × 17.8 × 6.4 cm (7 1/4 × 7 × 2 1/2 in.)
Classification
ceremonial object
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
148387
Art Historical Context
This striking Ritual Flaying Knife, known as a *kartrika*, hails from 17th- or 18th-century Asia, likely the Himalayan region where such ceremonial objects held profound spiritual significance in Vajrayana Buddhist practices. Measuring a compact 18.4 × 17.8 × 6.4 cm, it served not for practical use but as a ritual implement symbolizing the severing of ignorance, ego, or negative forces during tantric ceremonies. Often associated with wrathful deities, the *kartrika* embodies the transformative power of ritual, where the act of "flaying" represents stripping away illusion to reveal enlightenmen...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...