An antique Indian miniature panting of a noble man with his harem. Five beauties vie for his attention. Two musicians play music in the foreground. In the background is the architecture of elaborate archways and doors which lead to the inner courtyard. The edges of the paper are decorated with sprays of flowers.
Wealthy residences had a protected area where all the women of the house lived. This scene takes place just inside the antahpur (inner courtyard) of such an area...

This unusual small triangular shaped snuff bottle 2 of the 3 sides of the piece have carefully repouse Tibetan symbols..no makers marks...a few tiny dents ...no loss. It was brought back from Tibet by a man who went on a long walkabout from Istanbul to Tibet back in the late 60's...China was not open at the time...and Tibet ..he traveled with a backpack,limited space,few small momentoes and he was picky...old pieces only... bottle is approx 1.75 inches high

A Nepalese dagger used in Shamanic and Buddhist rituals, carved from wood with a glossy patina. The handle section in the shape of a vajra with endless knots and three faces, the blade trigonal. Condition: traces of usage. Dimension: 21.1 cm long.

Introduction: Various types of Rajasthani Schools of painting flourished in Rajasthan from the 16th century onwards. Great names in these schools of paintings are- the Mewar School, Bundi School, Kota School, Bikaner School, Jaipur School, Marwar School and Kishangarh School. Each Rajasthani school of painting has its distinct and unique style whilst representing the hills, colours and palaces of Rajasthan. Description: This is a large Indian, Jaipur school, painting of Royal procession...

Antique Indian miniature painting of a scene with two beautiful ladies in a courtyard. It appears that the ladies picnic has been disturbed by the antics of a cat and bird. At their feet is a spread of fruit and wine. Also a small cage. One could imagine a scene where the bird has escaped and is being chased by the cat. The women pursue the cat and the escaped bird. White doves fly in the blue sky above the walls of the inner courtyard. Painted in gouache on paper...

Hand painted picchavi cloth showing Krishna as Shrinathji being worshipped in his shrine at Nathdawara during annakuta the mountain of food ceremony. 150x100cm. Backed onto red cotton with hanging loops. Reasonable condition for age and use, small splits at base.

Antique Indian Mughal miniature painting of a court princess, holding a child's crown on a small, round tray. She is draped in shear yellow robes with red salwar and she is bedecked with jewels. Her long black hair flows down her back. Here beautiful face has a slight smile. Behind her are tall plants flowering yellow and white. This court painting was probably once an album leaf from an illuminated text...

A votive portable prayer altar with a bronze botisattva on the front, in relief, sitting on a lotus pedestal. it is surrounded by incised leaf and flower patterns. Inside is a statue of Buddha and there are two prayer sheets (one hand printed and one block printed).

Period: 19th Century

Size: 13 centimeters high

Condition: Very good. Natural patina

Antique Nepali Sarangi Musical String Instrument with sublimely rendered animal and human figures, from the published and renowned collection of Sam Hilu, a prominent author and adviser on traditional Asian art, 29.75 x 7.75 inches, 75.5 x 20 cm.

Nepalese Mask from the Humla Region with a beard, eyebrows, and scalp. 9 inches, 23 cm.

Indian miniature painting. Hyderabad 19th century. Gouache on card. 22x15 cm.

A superb Indian statue of a pair of Hindu deities with different attendants set near the deity. The couple might be the deities Shiva and Parvati with their child, Ganesha. The back of the mandorla like structure is engraved with a Devanagari-like script. Age: 19th-20th century Size: length 6" width 2.25" height 5.9"

Large framed Indian picchavi painting on cotton.113 x 76 cm. Undated, estimated to be early 20th cent or earlier. Some surface stains and creases. Can be viewed in central London. Can be deframed and sent folded worldwide.

Stone sculpture of the female deity Durga slaying a spirit emerging from the water buffalo Manisha. Carved in high relief, with temnants of tuna pigment, from the Rajasthan area. 17th-18th century.

Size: 27" tall, 14" wide, 6" deep.

Early 19th century Indian drawing on paper from Bundi, 15x6.5 cm, image on reverse, mounted, can be viewed in central London and shipped worldwide.

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.

Antique Indian jeweled tassel. Suspend from a Chinese hardwood display stand, this Indian tassel is woven with gold, threaded with pearls and ends with a umbrella form over a tiny bell - all set with pearls, emeralds, rubies and diamonds in 18k gold.

Age: Mughal Empire (1526-1857) circa 18th/19th century

Dimensions: Tassel size: 4 1/4" high x 1 1/4" wide. Size including display stand: 7 3/4" high x 4 3/8" wide x 3" deep

Indian stone bust of Brahma with three heads, Central India. Crowned headdress with raiment of a royal being. Light grey stone, benevolent countenance.
Brahma known as the creator god in Hinduism. He is also a consort of Saraswati and he is the father of Four Kumaras, Narada, Daksha, Marich, along with many more.

Several Puranas describe him as emerging from a lotus, connected to the navel of Lord Vishnu...

Old tribal necklace, made of old red and yellow glass beads and small bronze bells, with a bronze ornament in the shape of three heads to indicate head-taking status. North East India, Naga ethnic group. Length: around 37 cm. Very good condition. Provenance: 1) old European collection, 2) auction sale.

What an amazing statue: early 18th century Tibetan Maitreya Buddha made of high class purple bronze, very impressing with 40 cm (15,8'') height and a almost 11 kg.

Smooth surface, wonderful and exquisite carving. Very fine antique condition with no repairs...

One point vajra, which belonged to a lower rank Buddhist lama. Bronze, with two old textile wrappings to protect fingers against the power of the thunderbolt. Tibet, early 19th century. Length: 21.5 cm. Abrasion due to great age, otherwise very good condition.

Nepalese Yak Hair Mask from the Humla Region. 8 inches, 20.5 cm.

A wooden carved Tibetan mask. The art of Tibetan masks can be classified into religious type and folk type. Exorcising masks were initially held to drive away ghosts and evil spirits. Later were used in local operas. Size: 27cm X 17cm.

This is an exceptionally well carved mask, dating, most probably, to the early 20th century. The artist who created this mask has invested it with a powerful and menacing presence, as the photos will, hopefully, show. The piece measures just over 11 inches in width and is intact, carved from a single tree fungus. A rare and powerful survival.

Rare Nepalese Shaman's Ritual Harness and Belt Suit of Bells, Feathers, Animal Hide, Shells, Fur, Metal, and Fabric. From the collection of Sam Hilu, prominent collector and author on Asian and African art. An old and rare piece that was used in rituals performed by a West Nepalese Shaman of the Magar Tribe in the Rukum District. Beautifully mounted and displayed on a custom metal stand...

Antique Tibetan gilt bronze figure of the Bodhisattava, Avalokiteshvara. The Luminous Lord of Infinite Compassion sits in padmasana position with his hands held in front of his chest in the complex dharmachakra mudra. Also called the teaching mudra and "spinning the wheel of the Law", dharmachakra relates the Buddha's teaching in the forest of Sarnath. Avalokiteshvara wears a 5 pointed crown and other princely jewels but also has the long locks of an ascetic...

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

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. 100 grams.

Condition: Intact, ...

Indian painting on cloth of Jagannatha & Balabhadra on their journey accepting buttermilk from the milkmaid Manika Undated, estimated to be late 19th early 20th century. 50 x 50 cm. Framed and glazed.

Antique Indian miniature painting of Radha and Krishna in the garden. Best known for their love to each other, the God Krishna and his true love, the Goddess Radha are two of the most adored deities in Hinduism. While strolling the hills, Krishna often played his flute for the grazing cows. A young and beautiful gopi (caretaker of cows) heard his flute and the two fell in love. In this painting we see the young couple flanked on either side by two attendant girls. In the background is the...

Antique Tibetan tsakli card depicting a beast-headed ḍākinī. Painted in mineral colors on paper with Sanskrit writing on the back.

Tsakli cards are powerful miniature paintings of Buddhist deities and objects. They have many different ritual uses. They can be used for teaching when a lama holds the card out for a student to focus on, thus helping them with the visualization and meditation on that deity and what it represents. The cards are often used as part of altar displays that...

19th century small votive Indian bronze sculpture of Ganesha sitting on a square base. 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. 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 moonli...

Indian wedding palanquin for a bride. Made of a hardwood, possibly padauk, carved with florets and accented with iron details. The domed roof is constructed with a latticework. Doors and window openings are carved to mimic the architecture of a garden courtyard adding to the overall feminine quality of the palanquin.

Palanquins were the most popular means of transportation in British India prior to the introduction of horse-drawn vehicles and the railroad. The bridal palanquin is...

Tibetan Himalaya region large Copper and Brass applied Ewer, Tea pot, 19th century, 12 1/2" high, 15" wide include handle, 9 1/2" deep, with chased Mythical Fish "Makala" spout and handle within Buddhist Symbols design, floral shape knob, large Buddhist Lotus Pedals on the lower section, used in the Monastery serving many Monks for years. This Ewer is one of the fine collection collected by serious collector during 1980's, he made many trips to Tibet and bought each antiques and artifact from T...

Antique Tibetan tall bronze butter lamp for a Buddhist altar. Traditionally, the butter lamp would burn ghee. The light of the flame of the butter lamp represents the "wisdom of the awakened mind" and helps to "dispel the darkness of delusion". Most Tibetan household and temple altar displays include a butter lamp. This tall lamp resembles a multi tiered lotus blossom with decorative granulation on the edges. Beautiful patina from age and use.

Age: 19th century

Dimensions: 13 ...

Antique Tibetan Dzi bead, agate with 8 eyes. The mystical Dzi beads are implements of ancient Tibetan and other Asian cultures for several hundreds of thousands of years. Dzi beads are believed to hold magical properties bringing prosperity and protection to whomever wore these beads.
They are also thought to hold medicinal properties, and so can be characterized by the "dig marks" left over the surface of the bead, where a small portion has been scraped away to be ingested. This Dzi bea...

Jain painting from Western India. 19th century or earlier. 73 x 64 cm. Inks on paper, backed onto paper with areas of retouching. Can be viewed in central London by arrangement.

Antique Tibetan tsakli card depicting a wrathful deity (Heruka) wielding a knife on the back of a fu-lion. Painted in mineral colors on paper with Sanskrit description on the back.

Tsakli cards are powerful miniature paintings of Buddhist deities and objects. They have many different ritual uses. They can be used for teaching when a lama holds the card out for a student to focus on, thus helping them with the visualization and meditation on that deity and what it represents. The ca...

Tibetan thogchag figuring Chanadordje, 3,5 x 3,5 cms

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.

H. 11,6 cm. Very nice age wear and a soft patina with traces of puja worship. Provenance: Belgian private collection.

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.

This Bhutanese knife is unusually large, measuring 18 inches from the top of the handle to t...

Rare 17th Century Tibetan Chakrasamvara Thangka with numerous inscriptions on the back. There is a tape repair on the center of the back. 26 x 19.5 inches, 66 x 50 cm.

A very good quality antique Himalayan Nepalese large ritual bronze lamp Sukunda, 18th century, Nepal, Newar tribe Kathmandu Valley.

The lamp consists of an oil storage pitcher with a shaped handle with a finial in the form of a five -headed cobra. Nestled within the hooded canopy is an image of a Hindu deity, Vishnu, wearing a tall crown.

The pitcher holds fuel made of clarified yak butter for use during rituals. The fuel was then ladled out and put on the cast leaf-shaped vessel at th...

Quirky image of Ganesh accompanied by four rats as devotees and musicians. This is from the last half of the 20th century- possibly a tribal image. For the most part most of the iconography and i.e., accoutrements, mudras and association of rats accompanying him are correct. I acquired this from an estate of long term Hong Kong resident, other than that I don’t have any other information other than this a very cool. It is hand made of copper, the very top of his head is missing a pie...

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.

Artistic Antique Indian painting of a woman sitting pensively under a tree. Woman is dressed in traditional indian clothing with beautiful red and gold colors. A towel is hanging on a branch by a stream. Painting is gilt with mineral pigments. Part of a collection dated 1964. Contains signature of Khet Singh 19th Century Dimensions: Frame 15" High X 12" Wide Painting: 3.25" Wide, 4.5" High

Tibetan Himalayan Match Striker, Coral and Turquoise natural stones set in the embossed and high relief decorated hard Silver and Brass borders on Yak Skin Leather, 3 5/8" high without ring, 6" wide steel striker. The heavy hard Silver top is also decorated with fine designs which shows the wear. Six metal buttons are studded on the back, surrounded with decorated Hard Silver borders. The leather inside is dyed light red color. The condition is good.

Women’s three paneled silk dress circa 1970 to 1990, hand woven from Bhutan. Minor fraying along one side where as well some pinholes and stains. L: 2.3m/90in and W: 1.43m/56in.

6.75" in diameter, this footed Kakiemon porcelain bowl is molded in the form of a twenty-four petal chrysanthemum, and is is decorated with bijins and delicate sprays of flowers over blue underglaze. Ex-Christie's

Condition: Excellent, with no chips, hairlines or repairs.

Antique Himalayan tall yak butter lamp. Made of hand hammered copper with gilt bronze applied details depicting Buddhist auspicious symbols. The butter would have melted and burned for a measured amount of time depending on the size and the amount in the lamp. A small hole in the bottom of the cup would have held a sort of wick to provide a long lasting light. Overall repouse details are in great detail. Original patina.

Early 19th century (Circa 1810)

Dimensions: 8 5/8" ...

Small statue of Buddha depicting an important stage of his life when, still as Siddhartha, he sat meditating for a long time almost without eating and became emaciated and close to death, before realizing that the way to seek the Truth was not to torture oneself. Siddhartha, with an aureola at the back of his head, sits on a semi-circular throne with a vajra in relief on its front. Gilt copper, with a fine patina. Tibet or China, 19th century, maybe earlier. Height: 8.5 cm. Gilding partly missi...

18th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of Radha beautifully flexing her body, her arms wide spread, a betel nut in her right hand, and her hair arranged in a bun, cast in the State of Orissa. Radha is a Hindu goddess and a chief consort of the god Krishna and is worshiped as the goddess of love, tenderness, compassion and devotion. She is the avatar of Lakshmi and is also described as the chief of gopis (milkmaids), who are entranced by Krishna playing flute. Krishna’s flute is the call o...

Late Qing Dynasty (1890s to 1911) Chinese / Tibetan mala - Buddhist rosary consisting of 108 wooden beads and 4 jadeite ones that serve as spacers dividing the prayer beads into groups of 27 each. Dark dense wood, beautiful green jadeite. Traditionally Buddhist rosary of 108 even-sized beads is used for mantra recitation. The thread represents the continuity of the buddhadharma piercing the 108 worldly passions. The mantras are recited to accomplish the four karmas or enlightened activities of p...

17th Century White Tara Tibetan Thangka. The White Tara goddess symbolizes transcendent knowledge and purity. In ancient Tibet, it was believed that Tara was reincarnated in every virtuous and pious woman. She was born from the eye of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion, and became his wife. 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. Mineral pigments on silk....

Antique Indian Mughal album leaf miniature painting most likely of the Emperor Jahangir on horseback. A halo and bejeweled crown imply his Imperial rank. Jahangir was ambitious about taking over the reign of his father, Akbar the Great, and the two were at odds until reconciling later in life. Akbar was a patron of the arts and it was he who brought together the Indian and Persian artists who defined the genre of Mughal miniature painting. Here, Emperor Jahangir sits astride an elaboratel...

An interesting antique bronze figure of Krishna dancing on serpent, cobra, Indian or Nepalese, perhaps c. 19th. century.

Size: c. 103 mm. tall.

Condition: Nice Very fine, patina and wear from worship.

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

A large fine quality Sri Lankan brass figure of Buddha seated in meditation under the protection of Muchilinda the serpent. The solidly cast figure made separately from the base. Sri Lanka L19thC. Height 34.4cm. Traces of polish.

19th Century Indian Antique Bronze Fluting Krishna Sculpture. 4.5 inches (11.5 cm). Excellent Condition. From the collection of a prominent author on and collector of Asian art.

17th Century Tibetan Green Tara Thangka, 49.5 x 29.5 inches, 126 x 75 cm. 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.