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...
Unusually sculptural 18th century Indian bronze shrine in a form of a courtyard set around a Shiva lingam: Shiva and his wife Parvati, each one seated with one leg pendant, their backs against an ornate probhavali with sun and moon symbols, their elephant-headed son Ganesha, Nandi the bull of Shiva, and Naga (hooded cobra) rising protectively over the lingam...
Antique Nepalese bronze melong, "Mirror of Emptiness". Melong are placed on altars to reflect right thoughts. This melong has a polished center surrounded by flames. It stands on a lotus base. It is the same on either side. A soft rattling sound from within the convex portion of the mirror reveals that it has been consecrated, meaning a prayer has been placed inside.
Age: 18th/19th century
Dimensions: 7 1/2" high x 4 1/4" wide x 2 1/2" deep
Nicely cast ritual spoon, with a highly detailed statue on its top representing Hindu god Krishna standing on a stylised lotus and playing his flute, with a cow behind him. The spoon itself is decorated with two birds on its sides and a geometric design at its back. Copper with nice green patina. India, early 19th century. Height: 14.8 cm. The spoon is mounted on a custom stand to enhance its beauty. A rather rare piece of this size and condition.
Antique Indian bronze figure of Ganesha. Seated on a lotus throne, he holds his prayer beads and ax in two of his four hands. He holds up one hand in abhaya mudra while he feeds himself sweets with the other. His mouse vahana (vehicle) looks up at him from the right side of his throne. According to legend, Ganesha was created from mud by the goddess Parvati in order to guard her while she bathed...
Antique Nepali Sarangi Musical String Instrument with sublimely rendered tiger and human figures, from the published and renowned collection of Sam Hilu, a prominent author and adviser on traditional Asian art, 27 x 7.5 inches, 68.5 x 19 cm.
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.
Antique Nepali Sarangi Musical String Instrument with script and sublimely rendered human and animal figures and representations of modes of transportation, from the published and renowned collection of Sam Hilu, a prominent author and adviser on traditional Asian art, 27 x 8.75 inches, 68.5 x 22 cm.
These two saddle rugs, in knotted pile, are forming a pair and were used together: the larger piece with trapezoid ends served as a saddle cloth (makden), while the smaller rug was a saddle cover (masho). Both items are in their original condition, with a red trim and backed with a coarse beige fabric. Provenance: old Swiss collection. Dimension approx.: makden: 120.5 x 67 cm, masho: 82.5 x 66 cm. Condition: signs of age and wear, rims with partial discoloration, faded.
This is an antique Tibetan portable altar table used by a high lama to perform ritual ceremonies and prayers. It is decorated with curtain front cut-out panels that have a central snow lion carving and it is surrounded by beautiful articulated cloud formation. On the outer frame, it has a pho bamboo carving and beyond that is a scrolling lotus motif...
Tibetan Himalayan Monastery Monk's Pray Table used in the Monastery, Ca. 1800's, 31" wide, 23" high, 13 1/4" deep, Lacquered on top of raised design low relief design of the scrolling vines on
the both sides and Snow Lions Face in front upper section, large carved Buddhist Lotus Leaves on the bottom section. This Pray Table is in original old condition, no restorations or any new lacquer finish added...
Set of 9 Mongolian buddhist paintings. 19th century.
Pigments on cotton. Each approx 20x15cm
In custom made frame.
Can be viewed in central London by appointment.
And shipped worldwide.
A pierced fragment of an antique Tibetan or Nepalese torana, worked in copper repousse with remains of gilding and colors. Showing a caparisoned elephant with a snow lion on his back, lifting a deity riding on the mythical beast "sharabha". Condition: wear to gilding, slightly warped. Dimension: 36.5 cm high x 15 cm widw x 2.5 cm deep.
An Mughal Indian Brass Water Flask, Surai.
The elegant vessel with a screw top.
Heavily cast and with turned decoration.
Deccan, N India 19thc.
Height: 11 3/4" (29.8 cm).
Condition; very good, has been polished.
The hip-length coat of mail made of riveted rings, with a short back slit and long sleeves. Three fish-shaped buckles are riveted onto the two large, integrated plates in the chest area. Two narrower plates attached at each of the sides, followed by three rows of overlapping discs on the back. The outside of the right breastplate bearing a long inscription in Hindi, the inside bears a shorter in Devangari, on the left an inscription in arabic.
Size: ca. 80 cm...
A fine lot of 5 metal items from the same collection:
a) Leather, silver, gilded brass, copper, corals. Wallet in form of vajra, 12 x 7,5cm. b) Silver, copper, with turquoise and corals. Gunpowder container in form of a horn, L ca 20cm. c) Silver gau container with a coral and four glass stones, H 11,5cm.. d) Bronze alloy, silvered tingsha cymballs with dragons, ca. 7,5 cm. in diameter. e) Brass vajra. 19th - early 20th century, L 12,8cm.
Traces of usage...
Antique Tibetan or Nepalese Buddhistic Thangka / Tangka, gouache on canvas, second half of the 19th century. In original condition, fastened to a wooden stick and o be rolled up with a cinnamon-brown silk cover to protect the painting which is framed by silk brocade of the same colour. The back with the name of the artist, a Buddhistic monk, finely inscribed in red. The picture itself represents one hundred boddhisatvas in various sizes and positions among clouds...
Antique Tibetan silver incense burner in three pieces. Created as a smaller version of a kapala (skull cup) ritual vessel for Buddhist ceremonies. The censor seats into a triangular base covered with designs of swirling mist and Sanskrit symbols. The lid is similarly decorated and has a vajra finial.
Age: 19th century
Dimensions: 7 3/4" high x 4 1/4" wide x 4 1/2" wide