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.
A rare hand painted clay figurine of the Tibetan god, Yamantaka. Yamāntaka is the "lord of death" deity of Vajrayana Buddhism. Sometimes he is conceptualized as "conqueror of death". He belongs to the Anuttarayoga Tantra class of deities popular within the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Tsa-Tsas are small sacred images that are hand crafted from clay. The clay is often consecrated with medicinal ingredients and relics and then filled with mantra rolls or stamped on the reverse with mantras...
Nice small size late 19th / early 20th century Sino-Tibetan bronze vajra - the primary symbol and ritual implement in Tantric Buddhism. It symbolizes the essence of esoteric practices and the perfected state of reality. This vajra has 5 prongs on each end - one at the center, and four at the cardinal directions - symbolizing five cosmic Buddhas. The globe in the middle is considered to be the power center of the implement, on either side of the globe there are stylized lotus petals...
A very attractive votive image of Akshobya Buddha in fire gilt bronze. He is seated on a fairly high, lotus throne. The hem of his robes are accentuated with raised lines made as strings of pearls with the lower parts decorated w. incised patterns. The robe covering the left arm is open underneath and the rim of the seat has large pearls in accordance with 15th century stylistic features for Central Tibetan bronze images of Buddha...
A stunning oversized and very elaborate Tibetan silver ewer with gilt brass fittings and decorations, 19th. century AD.
The lavish piece probably a commission for a very wealthy family or a temple. The ewer of fairly high grade hammered silver with elaborate mounts and scroll-work in gilt brass and silver. On the belly two different brass mounts in high relief on one side an elephant monster and on the other side a demon mask with it's tunque out...
A small carved wooden stele from Nepal of a Buddhist or more likely Hindu deity, maybe Indra. Bejeweled god with a fan-shaped crown, seated on a lotus base in lalita-sana under a mandorla. Traces of vermilion. Condition: see photos, wear, and small losses. Dimension: total height: c. 17.3 cm, c. 10.3 cm wide, c. 5 cm deep.
Antique Tibetan carved wooden ritual staff handle with three heads; the top head is a skull, the second head is presumably Padma Sambhava, the third is presumably Guru Rimposhe, on new metal stand. Size 5.5"
16th / 17th century.
A very rare Phurba ritual dagger of purple zitan wood with three heads of protectors on the top, a central vajra in the handle and the head of a garuda holding the triangular blade. Tibet, 15/16th century. L 28 cm. Condition: Good wear and only a few minor chips.
17th Century Vajravarahi Tibetan Thangka. Fine Antique Tibetan Thangka of the Sakti of Samvara, Vajravarahi (Tibetan: Hod-zer Chan-ma), Goddess of War and Victory, with a necklace of skulls, a staff of skulls, a skull bowl, and a crown of skulls. She is dancing on a lifeless body surrounded by a mandorla of flames. Most of these thangka were photographed through glass frames, so there may be a little blurriness. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum...
Antique Tibetan Thangka representing Four Hands CHENREZIG, Tibetan Buddha of Compassion, standing in a mountainous landscape and surrounded by deities including Taras.
Pigments on canvas. Very good condition. End of 19th C. 75 x 52 cms.
18th century Tibetan thangka depicting Ekadasamukha - Boddhisattva Avalokiteshvara manifesting its form with 11 faces. Boddhisattva is holding various implements in his 6 hands, there is Tsongkhapa surrounded by 2 lamas depicted above him and 3 deities (White Tara, Mahakala and Green Tara) below. Beautifully painted with natural mineral pigments on cotton, original mounts lost its silk front but retained cotton backing, the thangka can be displayed hanging...
Antique Nepalese bronze figures of Yama Dharmaraja and Yami in tantric embrace. The buffalo headed Buddhist protector, Lord of Death and Justice stands with his consort. He tramples a male buffalo with one foot, a female victim with the other. He brandishes a skull-tipped stick in his right hand and his hair streams out in flames behind his horns.
Age: 19th century
Dimensions: 5 1/4" high x 3 1/4" wide x 2" deep
Shaman's bracelet used during rituals meant to favor crops. Tha bracelet is decorated with two stylised men, each standing behind a plough drawn by two oxen. The rest of the decor consists in stylised plants and a circle (the sun?). The bracelet is made of bronze, with a beautiful patina. Himalayan Region, early 19th century, probably earlier. Inside diameter: around 8 cm. Very good condition. A very rare piece.
Antique Gilt Bronze Himalayan Seated Diety of Kubera, lord of riches and wealth, holding mongoose spitting gold. Ornamented with crown headdress and jewelry with flowing robe on lotus throne. Pleasant face with well nourished pot belly. Base intact, sealed with cover with incised vajra design.
Size 5 1/4" High x 5 " Wide x 3 1/4" Depth
circa 1920s
Early 20th Century Tibetan Thangka of Mahakala and Consort from a renowned and published collection. Very Good Condition. 27 x 20.5 inches, 69 x 52 cm.
Though the traditional practice of Tibetan "sky burial" is well known. But in some areas of Tibet the Buddhist practice of cremation is also used for some individuals, and The ashes are placed in a box made specifically for that purpose.
This cremation box dates to the 18th century and has carved line decoration on the sides...
It is made so that the top is keyed to the bottom and slides open from one end...
Superbly cast bird perch, of curved shape, with four dragon heads in the round. Bronze, with fine greenish patina. Himalayan Region, 18th century. Dimensions: length: 3 5/8" (9 cm), height: 3 1/8" (8 cm). Excellent condition. A rare and fine piece. Collected in Nepal in 1974 by its former owner.
Architectural element, of triangular form, finely carved in relief to represent a celestial being, half chimera half human, carrying a banner and surrounded by clouds. Wood, age patina. Nepal, 18th century. Length: 36.5 cm. Nicely mounted on a custom stand. Good condition.