An incense holder made from copper alloy, representing the head of the goddess Za-byed mkha' - 'gro-ma and used in healing rituals. The mouth forms the opening of the bowl, from which sticks out a decorated tongue. Also present are teeth, four of which are pointed. The eyes are made from glass crystals with the pupils detailed in black beneath. The eyes are outlined in red. Two earrings are formed from the metal and embedded with yellow crystals. There is a crown decorated with three skulls and five yellow crystals. On the back a metal wire wraps around two protuding skulls forming a fixing.
This incense holder represents the head of the goddess Za-byed mkha' - 'gro-ma, 'The all devouring'. It would have been used in certain healing rituals. Smoke from lit incense in the bowl issues from the goddess' mouth and is inhaled by the invalid.
