This wonderfully detailed Antique pendant is from Tibet. It has silver dragons surrounding a large veined turquoise stone with a smaller coral stone. Additional small bits of turquoise form the background for the dragons tail. The entire scene is backed and bordered with scalloped bronze. The rear of the pendant another oval shaped turquoise stone in a ribbed bezel. The pendent can be easily suspended from a simple black cord using the 2 attached bronze loops.
The pendent is 3 inches acr ...click for details
This antique document case would be used to house and transport important documents. The high quality silver decoration of vines and flowers uses both pierced and repousse techniques. The curious emblem displays a spade and heart and club....no diamonds. Originally owned by a wealthy family, it is from what was considered northern India, (possibly now Pakistan), during the Raj period, before partition. This document case has been held in a private collection for many years. ...click for details
This short sword and matching scabbard from Bhutan is elaborately decorated. The knife handle or sword hilt has a leather cover which is detail with silver reposse and a coral bead. The wooden scabbard is covered with leather and is decorated with an elaborate silver reposse dragon. The knife blade is has a series of added symbols. The belt loop is also decorated with a series of silver objects.
Both the wooden front and back covers of this Buddhist Sutra book are hand carved with different symbols. The numerous text pages are beautifully written with rich black ink with specific words written in red ink. The book still has its original leather binding strap.
This Tibetan sutra book approximately 12 inches wide, 4 inches tall, and 2 inches thick. Though the pages are in good condition, the covers show years ...click for details
This antique lamp was sourced from an old Buddhist Temple in Mongolia. It would have been used as a light source, commonly using fat but also occasionally using oil for fuel. The surfaces are rusted and corroded from centuries of use and weather, which gives the piece character and shows it to be an ethnographic artifact of cultures past and passing.
This elaborate antique embroidery panel is from Gujrat India and would have been used as a dowery quilt. It is backed with soft aged (now muted) cotton fabric, leaving a 4 inch border surrounding the embroidery. The gold and silver metallic threads are also somewhat subdued and blended giving the panel a soft and somewhat muted appearance which is very pleasing. It is rare to find these old textiles from India intact as many of them where cut up into smaller sections and sold to textile colle ...click for details
This face-sized antique mask of a shaman or Buddhist priest is from Tibet. The hand carving is both delicate and simple, with chisel marks showing on the back of the mask.
This antique Tibetan Gau has repousse silver front with animal and fish motif. A large coral bead decorated the center and a small turquoise bead decorates the top. The back has a hand hammer copper cover which can be removed to add sutras (prayers). Both men and woman would wear Gaus during Tibetan gatherings, festivals and Buddhist religious celebrations.
This Gau is 4.5 inches x 4 inches and almost 2 inches thic ...click for details
This Tibetan Priest's rattle is carved from horn and has a bone cap on the end. It was used by the Monk during ceremonial rituals and would have been shaken to ward off evil spirits. This horn was hand carved with many Tibetan Buddist symbols. All the edges are worn smooth with use and repeated handling.
This pair of rectangular shaped antique Tsakli cards are hand-painted on cloth. The Buddhist monks would use the Tsakli card as a learning tool to aid in remembering the meanings of religious symbols,objects and rituals. In poorer areas the cards would be used in place of the religious objects which they depicted. These cards have the Tibetan script on the reverse side of the card.
This Tibetan gau is actually a small shrine. When not being worn as an ornament during festivals, it would be kept in the prayer niche of the family home. The back of the box slides open. Frequently, a special prayer i.e. sutra pages would be placed inside. The small glass window at the front displays a Tsa tsa, which is a clay statue of a Buddhist Diety. These statues were made only by the monks and considered to be a holy relic. This antique gau has a front piece of silver with a deep re ...click for details
According to many Indians, this old juicer would also doubled as a pasta maker. With the carved animal heads on each side, and great aged patina, it makes an interesting sculptural artifact of India's culture.
Measures 12 high, 10 inches wide and 6 inches deep.
This Tibetan talisman has a sealed leather herb bag hanging on each side of a small bronze sitting Buddha which is also displayed in a leather casing. The Buddha is depicted as holding a small bottle. All 3 pieces are hanging from a matching leather strap so that it could be worn around the neck of the individual.
Sandals such as these were worn in villages throughout India. hand carved from indigenous woods, frequently teak and fitted to the individual wearer. The knob on the toe prevented the sandals from falling off and no other attachment was used. There are 3 different pairs of these listed here and they can each be seen in the detail pictures.
This lovely antique Indo Persian box is covered with silver and bronze elaborate damascene work on the top and 4 sides. The box lid is slightly domed and the inside is lined with wood. Made in what was Persia, now Bidar India, this box dates to the early part of the 19th century, and is an fine example of Damascene metal work. In excellent condition, the box is 6.5 inches x 3.5 inches x 2 inches high.
