South Asia, India, ca. 18th-19th century.

A solid cast bronze alloy figure depicting Krishna the "Butter Thief" as a youth holding a ball of butter that he stole from his stepmother. Baby Krishna or Bala Krishna is crawling with a ball of butter in his right hand. As mischievous children/babies, Krishna and his older brother Balarama stole jars of butter and yogurt from their families and neighbors.

Size: 63 mm. tall. - weighing c...

18th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of Ganesha sitting on a square base, his trunk turned to its left, with his vahana (vehicle) - a bandicoot rat - in front of him, and holding his usual attributes. There is a protective naga (cobra) discernible wrapped around his waist. Ganesha is the remover of obstacles, and thus is invoked before any new undertaking. He bestows good luck on his worshippers, and is invoked in marriage ceremonies and in some forms of Tantric worship...

18th century Indian bronze Shiva shrine from Western India in a form of a courtyard, the family of Shiva seated around a lingam, including his wife Parvati in her Annapurna manifestation and her son Ganesha, as well as Nandi bull and a seated figure of a shrine donor with offerings in his hands. The back halo has the protective naga (cobra) with its hood wide open, and there is a pile of offerings in the front right corner of the shrine...

Charming mythical creature from Nepal..head is separate and rotates in fitted sleeve...intricate metal work with raised enamel drops giving the appearance of stones...crature stands roughly 4 inches high...

16/17th century small votive Indian bronze of Shiva lingam altar protected by a small hooded cobra and attended by Nandi bull - the vehicle of Shiva, or sometimes considered to be a form of Shiva himself. It rests in its usual position wearing rich trappings in front of a Shiva lingam altar, and there is a pile of offerings by his raised foot. Nice casting and detailing, great patina with green incrustation. Very good devotional object, wonderful feel of age to the piece...

An interesting early bronze figure of of Kali (probably), Southern Indian, perhaps Tamil Nadu, c. 16th.-18th. century or even earlier.

Size: c. 98 mm. tall.

Condition: Very fine, old patina and much smooth wear from worship.

Provenance: Collection of Gunna Munkvad, Denmark, aquired from the 1960s-1980s.

A nice pair of large antique wooden textile stamps, dating to 15th.-17th cent AD.

Hand carved wood stamps with geometrical and floral motifs for coloring textiles.

Size: 18,5 & 9 cm. - c. 7,5 & 3,5 inches.

Condition: Choice & intact comdition. Fine old patinas.

Ex. German Private collection.

Four 18th century Indian bronze chhappa (a tantric ritual stamp), their bases leaving imprints of: a sacred text, a conch shell and 2 of satkona yantra surrounded by sun rays. The chhappas were used during tantric temple ceremonies to stamp the proscribed parts of the body such as the forehead, cheeks, shoulders, forearms and stomach with a paste of white (for Vaishnavites) or red (for Shaivites) sandalwood...

This small hand painted picture on cloth, called a Tsakli was used for Buddhist religious instruction and rituals in Tibet. The back of the card has Tibetan writing...Obvious condition issues...This card and others listed on this site were all antique cards when they were brought out of Tibet in the 60's...roughly 3.75 x 3.5 inches

Interesting bronze finials, incl. one with an figure and a finely sculptured bronze peacock ornament with loops, c. 19th. century AD.

Two amulet bronze plaques, one with deity or worshipper, size: 12,5-13 cm. and a substantial peacock ornament with loops, size: 11,8 x 10 cm.

Condition: Intact with red and bronze patinas, with some glucerin stains and dirt deposits, probably from use - uncleaned.

Ex. Danish Private Collection.

The bone of this hair pin has carved series of circles and a very delicate cross hatch pattern. The top is decorated with strands animal hair. The hair pin is 7.5 inches long. This hair ornament is Naga, which is an indigenous tribal culture in the hills of the north east region of India.

Hand made oval, hinged, Antique Silver Cosmetic Box with Foliage and Flower Decor. Good Condition. Size: 5 cm. x 2 cm. Weight: 22 gr. silver Provenance: India, 19th Century.

18th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of Nandi - the vehicle of Shiva, or sometimes considered to be a form of Shiva himself. It rests wearing rich trappings in front of Shiva lingam. Very nice casting, wonderful feel of age produced by devotional wear and compressed sandalwood paste used during worship. Very good devotional object, pleasant to hold. Length 2 inches.

An oval Thewa pendant from Rajasthan in northern India. Thewa is the technique invented around 400 years ago where filigree gold designs are fused onto a coloured glass ground, then backed with silver foil. This pendant depicts prey being attacked in what looks like a palace garden. The work is very fine and I have had to show the photographs oversize to show the detail...

Small 18th century Indian bronze shrine in a form of a courtyard with Shiva, his wife Parvati and Naga (hooded cobra) between them, and facing them their elephant-headed son Ganesha, Nandi the bull of Shiva, another Naga (hooded cobra) and Shiva lingam. Very nice simple devotional sculpture with earnest casting and detailing, good patina from being touched during worship, a lot of compressed dust, very pleasant feel of age. Length 1 3/16 inches.

19th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of Ganesha sitting on a round base, cast in the Indian state of Karnataka. Ganesha is the remover of obstacles, and thus is invoked before any new undertaking. He bestows good luck on his worshippers, and is invoked in marriage ceremonies and in some forms of Tantric worship. Bold heavy casting with good sense of volume, beautiful warm patina, pleasant feel of age. Height 1 5/8 inches.

19th century small Indian bronze votive sculpture of monkey god Hanuman with his hands in praying gesture in front of him, and his tail forming a loop behind him. Hanuman personifies ingenuity and faithfulness - his strength and courage helped Rama to defeat Ravana. Cast in Maharashtra, wonderful casting (see his body in strong S-shaped atibhanga flexion at the waist) and detailing, great patina. Height 2.5 inches.

Late 19th to early 20th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of Ganesha sitting on Mooshika - a bandicoot rat that serves as Ganesha’s vehicle - on rectangular base. Ganesha is the remover of obstacles, and thus is invoked before any new undertaking such as marriage or new business. He bestows good luck on his worshippers, and is prayed to in some forms of Tantric worship...