A large and in interesting ancestor portrait painted on paper depicting a Chinese Qing official (mandarin) and his wife seated in formal, frontal pose on horse-shoe chairs draped with brocade silk. Good details to faces and garment. Between and above the two figures is an inserted panel indicating the ancestral lineage and position of the persons depicted, a slightly unusual feature in formal ancestor portraits of this type. Qing, ca. 1770–1820. The style indicates a work from Northern China. H ...click for details
Anthropomorphic root sculpture in the form of a bird spreading its wings. China or Japan, late 19th to early 20th cent. H 24 cm, W 26 cm. Condition: Fine.
A very decorative porcelain plate of export ware decorated with a garden scene in under glaze blue and white. Border w. various flowers on textile-design ground. In the bottom a factory mark in the form of a ding inside a double-rim. Qing, Kangxi, ca. 1690-1700. D 22.5 cm. Condition: Decent. No hairlines. However, the edge has some fritting and a chip (see last 2 pics.).
A very attractive and decorative, deep plate of export ware decorated in Imari-style w. gold, and iron-red glaze on under-glaze blue and white. The decoration depicts various flowers surrounding a central cartouche w. a stylized lake landscape. Qing, Kangxi, ca. 1700. D 22 cm. Condition: Minor wear to glaze and no hairlines. However, the edge has the usual fritting. In this case very minor.
A very large and elegant porcelain charger of export ware decorated with a landscape in under-glaze blue and white. Border with butterflies and various flowers on textile-design ground. Qing, Qianlong, ca. 1775. D 46 cm. Condition: Good, but for a single filed, rim chip and a faint hairline on border. (see photos no. 9 = chip; 7 = front; 8 =back).
A thigh bone trumpet (Tib.: Mikang Lingbu) for Tantric Buddhist ritual w. traditional mounting in yak-leather (top) and brass (mouthpiece). Most probably 19th cent or earlier. L 30 cm. Condition: Fair (considerable wear from use).
A very fine, small Tantric Buddhist hand-drum (damaru) fashioned from two pieces of skull bone (top parts). The connecting band of silver is richly worked w. a scroll-pattern and inserted pieces of coral and turquoise. From the handle hangs a triple-layered lapel made of brocade silk and cotton (this appears to be slightly later than the drum). 19th cent. L 13.5 cm, W 12 cm. (drum). Condition: Excellent but with ware due to use.
An extremely rare tool for grating precious stones (serdar) such as coral, turquoise, lapis lazuli and shell. Made of iron, gold and silver. The serdar (together w. a special file) is used for powdering various precious stones and minerals to be mixed with the clay for making votive amulets in clay (tsatsa). 18th cent. L 14 cm. Condition: Excellent (natural wear from use).
A seal box for the scholar’s table of carved boxwood decorated all-over with stylized chrysanthemum, phoenixes and other flowers. Qing, 18th cent. L 10 cm, H 4 cm, W 5 cm. Condition: An old repair to inside of lid, small chips due to age and use.
A fine, Five Buddhas crown made of gilt and coloured papiermache with cloth backing. Each Buddha rendered with his special attributes and iconography. Ritual crowns of this type were used in various Tantric Buddhist ceremonies including those of yidam-initiation (personal deity) and homa (fire ritual), both important practices in the Esoteric Buddhist tradition of Tibet and Mongolia. The Five Buddhas, Vairocana, Rathasambhava,, Amoghasiddhi, Amitabha and Akshobya each represents a special Buddha ...click for details
