Rare, antique, 18th century, Indo Persian shield (Dhal - Separ) - a white rhinoceros hide shield with six gold gilt bosses, Islamic Mughal North India.

The shield is of circular convex form with inverted rim, made of semi-translucent, very thick, treated white rhinoceros hide, adorned in the center with embossed central medallion, and mounted with six handmade copper bosses, heavily overlaid with gold, seated on the crimson fabric base...

From India, a tiny but fine and old bronze figure of Bhu Devi, the Earth-Goddess and second wife of Visnu. 17th century or earlier.

Approximately 7.7 cm high...

Indian painting of a woman on a black background upon a marbled page.Undated, estimated to be late 18th century. 41 x 30 cm. Surrounded by hand drawn calligraphy between elaborate borders. Text on reverse. Framed and glazed.

Pichhwai, temple painting, of Radha and Krishna in the Garden, Kishangarh Style, this Hindu scene of the God Krishna and his beautiful consort, the Goddess Radha takes place in a lush garden. The sacred mountain rises up behind them and as the two figures embrace at the opening to a cave.

At the top of the mountain sits a white palace and the sky is filled with 6 bird-shaped celestial chariots toward the it...

Miniature 18th century Indian bronze shrine for a home altar in a form of a courtyard with generally recognizable figures of Shiva, his wife Parvati, Naga (hooded cobra), and facing them their elephant-headed son Ganesha, another Naga, Nandi the bull of Shiva 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 15/16 inches.

18th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of Ganesha sitting on a rectangular throne with probhavali at his back, his vahana (vehicle) - a bandicoot rat - by his left foot, and holding his usual attributes in his 4 hands. This Ganesha has his trunk turned to the left, and it is strongly advisable for worshippers to keep left sided Ganesha statue at home. They are believed to be representing Ida Nadi (lunar energy) with its moonlike nature and feminine energy with a cooling effect...

Description; Having a 6 3/4", cupric steel double edged blade, with a silver, at one time gilded hilt and pommel with traces of gold still visible, stylized lion's head pommel, red velvet over wood sheath with pierced silver decorations. Great craftsmanship been rendered by the maker by detailing the lion head, movable tongue. Overall length of this item is 27 cm, 10.5 inches. Small size of the hilt is the indication that this dagger been used by a Child or a woman!

18th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of standing Bhairava accompanied by a small figure of a saddled horse. Govinda Bhairava is a syncretic form of Vishnu and Shiva. The upper hands are holding Vishnu’s attributes (Chakra and Shankha) and the lower hands are holding Shiva’s attributes (staff and begging bowl). Rare icon,. wonderful casting, beautiful devotional wear, excellent patina, traces of red sandalwood paste used during worship. Height 2 3/8 inches.

Northern Indian Mogul dynasty 1526–1858, established by Babur, Muslim descendant of Tamerlane, the 14th-century Mongol leader. The Mogul emperors ruled until the last one, Bahadur Shah II, was dethroned and exiled by the British; they included Akbar, Aurangzeb, and Shah Jahan...

18th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of dancing Krishna playing a flute, cast in the State of Orissa. This avatar of Vishnu playing flute for gopis is known as Krishna Venugopala (as always in this image, flute was cast separately, and is missing). Powerful casting, wonderful face, beautiful patina, very pleasant feel of age to the sculpture. Height 6 1/2 inches.

The katar is a type of push dagger from India. It is characterised by its H-shaped horizontal hand grip, which results in the blade of the sword sitting above the user's knuckles. Unique to South Asia, it is the most famous and characteristic of Indian daggers. Most katar have straight blades, but in south India they are commonly wavy...

18th century votive Indian bronze sculpture depicting the mother goddess Durga standing on the back of her vehicle - a roaring lion - and slaying the buffalo demon Mahishasura. Durga is the most powerful female deity in the Hindu pantheon. She is grabbing the hair of the demon with one hand while holding in her back hands various weapons symbolic of the attributes of all the gods given to her to slay the demon...

Rare, antique, 18th-century Mughal period, huge made of black lacquered hide, Indo-Persian, Indian shield (Dhal).

The shield has a circular convex form and an ornate brass medallion at the center. The medallion features an engraved, hand-sculpted, low-relief image of the Hindu deity Hanuman.

The monkey god faces towards the left side while wearing a Veshti and sash. He is decorated with two necklaces, armlets, bangles, earrings, and an elaborate crown...

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 offering in his hand. The back halo has the protective naga (cobra) with its hood wide open, and there is a pile of offerings in the front left corner of the shrine...

18th century Indian bronze chhappa (a tantric ritual stamp), its base leaving an imprint of a peacock feather. 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. The marks on the body provide a visual display of the adherent’s devotion and transfer the beneficence of the deity to the wearer...

18th century votive Indian bronze sculpture depicting the mother goddess Durga slaying the buffalo demon, and a small figure of her mount on her left- a roaring lion - biting the side of the demon Durga is the most powerful female deity in the Hindu pantheon. She has a spear in one front hand, and is grabbing the hair of Buffalo Demon Mahishasura with the other. In her back hands Durga holds various weapons symbolic of the attributes of all the gods given to her to slay the demon...

18th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of dancing Krishna playing a flute, cast in the State of Orissa. This avatar of Vishnu playing flute for gopis is known as Krishna Venugopala (as always in this image, flute was cast separately, and is missing). Excellent casting and detailing (see his eyes inlaid with silver), wonderful face, beautiful patina, very pleasant feel of age to the sculpture. Height 5 7/8 inches.

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...