A very fine solid cast Tibetan bronze depicting a six-armed Mahakala. Excellent detail- note the finely cast skull crown as well as the excellent facial detail. The piece is free of any damage and measures 4-5/8" in height
Antique Tibetan pair of low folding tables. Originally used by Buddhist priests for teaching and praying, these unusual tables fold down for travel. The front and sides of the table are hinged on wooden dowels and fold into the tray created by the table top when it is turned upside down. Painted with colorful scenes of birds and flowers. The table top surface is painted with red lacquer, decorated with gold dragons in the center and fruit branches in the corners...
This elaborate beaded breastplate would have been worn for festivals by a wealthy Tibetan woman. The main section has 3 ornate silver and turquoise ornaments surrounded by a raised beaded coil which is bordered with cowrie shells. The neckline rolled and padded.
It is 13 inches across at the widest point and can be tied around the neck using the attached fabric ties. As is obvious in the pictures, there are a couple areas of lose on the turquoise ornaments.
Out of Mongolia, this old leather tobacco pouch was made with a large button for hanging, long leather tassels, home made interesting decorative leather ornamentation...and hanging hook for removing old tobacco from pipe...
Clearly old and well used: the leather is still playable.
Great example of ethnographic folk art
Four Arms Avalokiteshvara (Tibetan: Chenrezig; Chinese: Sibi Guanyin), the Bodhisattva who embody the Universal Compassion. Seated in meditation with the upper hands holding a prayer beads and a lotus; the lower ones in worshiping Mudra ( Anjiali Mudra). Made of purple sandalwood (zitan), a very precious type of wood dear to Himalayan worshippers.
The image is painted and has remains of gilding in the halo. As it is normal for images of this type, it is assembled from several pieces...
Small "ghau", the front side, made of bronze, is decorated with a foliage and lotus design, the box itself ans its lid being made of copper with bronze handles. The "ghau" contains a tiny bronze statue of Bodhisattava Manjusri and textile. Fine age patina. A leather cord allows attachement of the "ghau" to a belt. Tibet, 19th century. Very good condition.
Head of a moustached nobleman, wearing an elaborate turban, with an interesting mixture of Greek and Indian features. Grey schist. Pakistan, Gandhara Graeco-Buddhist period, 1st to 3rd century. The head is nicely munted on a custom stand. Height (without stand): 4 1/2" (11,4 cm). Nose and chin slightly chipped, otherwise good condition.
Statue of a guardian, with a large mustache, wearing a turban --- suggesting that the man belongs to the Sikh community --- and a uniform. Wood, with strong abrasion due to great age. India, 18th/19th century. Height: 37 cm. The statue is mounted on a custom stand. Arms and feet missing, otherwise good condition.
Embossed gilt copper plate, with fine details, representing a snarling snow lion, standing. Two small copper rivets above the back of the lion. Tibet, early 19th century, maybe earlier. Height: 7 cm. Length: 8.3 cm. The plate is nicely mounted on a custom wood stand. Very good condition. Collected in Nepal in 1978.
Double sided manuscript leaf. Rajasthan, 1776
From a dispersed copy of the Shalibhadra Caupi. The story of Sangam. Composed by Dharma Kumar. Gujarati version.
Sirohi manuscript: Sangama herds cattle and the four neighbours bring the ingredients for khir and 3v: Dhanna cooks khir, Sangama gives his food to the monk breaking his fast and Dhanna gives the boy the rest of the food.See p.104 'Steps to Liberation', Jan van Alphen, Antwerp, 2000
11cm high x 26.7 cm wide. Good condition
Small statue of Ambika, with a tiny Jina sitting above her head, wearing a dhoti, standing on a pedestal backed by a large nicely adorned mandorla. Ambika holds a child in her left arm, and what seems to be a weapon in her right hand. The deity is flanked by her vahana animal, a lion, on her lower left side, and by another child standing on her lower right side. Bronze, with nice dark reddish-green patina. India, 16th century. Height: 3 1/4" (8,3 cm)...
Deity head in hammered bronze. The bronze is very thick, the ears are cast separately and welded. The hair is perfectly chiseled with a lot of elegance. The patina is verdigris and recalls that of ancient Roman bronzes. It is highly probable that this head was buried for several centuries. We were unable to locate it geographically. India, Himalayas, Afghanistan, Swat valley....? The appearance of the metal and its patina would indicate a high period of several centuries...
Finely cast unusual statue of Hindu god Kartikeya, wearing jewels and a loincloth, standing on a stylised lotus.The right hand of this statue is poised as if holding a staff and the left hand rests on his thigh. He is seen as a mendicant with just a loincloth on. This form of Kartikeya is also called Dandayudhapani (the one who holds staff in hand).Bronze, with nice age patina. India, early 19th century, maybe earlier. Height: 19.3 cm. Very good condition...
Large antique Indian bronze jewelry mold die, stamp, seal, of very rare concave form incised with very fine intricate motives. 18th-19th century India.
CONDITION: In very good condition with a lovely old patina and sign of usage.
DIMENSIONS: 11 cm x 9 cm (4.33 inches x 3 .54 inches).
WEIGHT: 283 grams.
large ink design on paper. Dated. 100x115cm. custom made Perspex frame. Can be viewed in central London by arrangement.
An interesting and rare bronze shrine or figure, depicting a Deity, likely Vishnu, seated on a Throne with a large construction at his back, with a Lion mask on top. Cobra hood over his head. South India, ca. 18th. century.
Size: 19 cm.
Condition: Choice, smoothly polished front, the back with an fine very old brown patina.
Ex. Old Danish Collection of Indian bronzes figures of the Hindu, Jain and Buddhist religions, aquired from ca. 1955 to 1990s.
Antique Indian Grey Schist Stone Stele Carving of Lord Vishnu and Consort Laksmi. Beautifully rendered in bas relief. Dieties in various poses.
Hoffman estate
Size: 15.25"L x 13.25"H x 4"D
Stand overall 17"L x 4"H x 7"D
Date: 10-11th century
This is woodblock is carved on both sides so that it was used to print 2 different pages of a Tibetan Sutra book.
...Age and use are obvious and there are a few nicks and bruises but no serious loss...
A true ethnographic relic
measures 14 inches x 3 inches x 7/8th inch...