Tibetan Wood Stele of Penden Lhamo 16/17th cent.

Archives: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas Pre 1700: item #735632
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A Tibetan wooden stele of the fearsome Dharma Protector Penden Lhamo (Shri Devi), seated side-saddle on her mule, holding a vajra-topped mace in her right hand and a skull-cup (kalasa) filled with blood in her left as she is carried across a sea of blood against the background of her flaming halo. In her hair she wears a peacock-feather umbrella, on her head a five-skull crown and in her ears one snake and one lion-head earring. Her breasts are pendulous and at her navel is a sun disc. Her demon... Click for details

Pair of Antique Tibetan Turquoise Earrings Aylong

Archives: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas Pre 1950: item #709263
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These are among the most common types of Tibetan earrings worn by women. Called aylong, the large silver hoop goes through a hole in the ear lobe and the weight is often held by a supplemental thread in the hair.

We have included a photo of a Tibetan woman wearing very similar earrings. We want to credit the photo to the excellent book, "The Jewelry of Nepal" by Hannelore Gabriel.... Click for details

Mahakala Bhutanese Papier-Mache Mask

Archives: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas Pre 1960: item #707219
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A viciously fanged blue Mahakala wearing a prominent crown of skulls is portrayed in this papier mache mask from Bhutan. Since it was worn in sometimes long monastery dances, the lightness of the material made the mask somewhat easier to wear.

As is the custom with Bhutanese masks it has been repainted several times, so it it probably considerably older than it looks. We are making the very conservative estimate t... Click for details

Tibetan Silver Offering Pot

Archives: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas Pre 1920: item #705572
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Covered pots like this are used to hold offerings and are usually found on Tibetan altars, either in a domestic shrine room or in a monastery.

This pot is decorated with eight kirtimukha faces, four on the lid and four on the base. The Kirtimukha or face of majesty is a mythological creature so ravenously hungry that it devoured its own body. It is depicted with only a face and hands and with strings of gems hanging f... Click for details

Tibetan silver butter lamp 5 inches

Archives: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas Pre 1920: item #703366
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Finely chased solid silver with four medallions each featuring two sacred or auspicious objects, this Tibetan lamp stands 5 inches (13 cm.) high. It is in excellent condition.

Close ups of each of the four medallions follows.

Tibetan Silver Censer

Archives: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas Pre 1920: item #701319
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Almost certainly a monastery piece, this censer would have been used to burn the loose incense which Tibetans obtain from fragrant vegetation such as certain kinds of evergreens. It is decorated with panels depicting a dragon, a phoenix and a snow lion. Above them along the rim are representations of the eight auspicious symbols.

For a censer it is a very petite size, standing 6-1/4 inches in height with a 4-1/2 inch ... Click for details

Amulet Tibetan Silver and Gilt copper Gau 2

Archives: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas Pre 1920: item #688601
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Tibetan gau boxes come in a variety of sizes and shapes, but this is one of the most common form of the larger gaus. It was made to be either placed on an altar or worn on the person. The two lugs on either side allow for a strap so it can be easily tied around the waist or hung over the shoulder.

A gau of this size can hold a wide variety of objects, all of a sacred or protective nature. This could includ... Click for details

Chinese Tibetan Double Iron Dorje Vajra (Cross)

Archives: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas Pre 1920: item #662806
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A cast iron double dorje with four prongs of stylized makaras.A ritual implement used in Tantric Buddhism. Size: 9.7cm x 9.2cm. Condition: No repairs.

Nepalese shaman's bird wand, Gurung

Archives: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas Pre 1900: item #631987
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This carved wooden bird on a handle ending in a dagger-like shape would have been used by a shaman in a trance dance. The bird's beak and claws represent sharpness, and this is used to ward off evil spirits. The strips of cloth tied the base contribute to the hostile intent. The handle ends in a square peg which fits into a square hole in the bird.

The handle is seven inches long and the bird is nine inches long dia... Click for details

Tibetan Clay Head, Probably Yamantaka

Archives: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas Pre 1800: item #628588
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Though we cannot say with full certainty, we suspect the head belongs to Yamantaka. We say this because of the bovine ears and the stumps above them which were probably the stumps of long-disappeared horns.

This is a very early piece, and while it has a few more recent chips (clearly visible in the photos), it still has a remarkable presence.<... Click for details