In Tibetan Buddhism, the Kartika, or Drigug, is a ritual flaying knife used in burial rituals, with the handle crafted as a dorje. A tool of the wrathful female deities known as Dakinis, the kartika symbolizes the cutting of all things material, symbolized by the human body. The blade is left dull (never sharpened) because it was used in a ritual representing the flaying of flesh and not for the actual purpose.
Early Indian Hindu Pallava style Bronze seated statue of Parvati.
Pala Hindu art is quite scarce and this is a wonderful intact figure very nice worn condition still retaining her features. She was cast in two pieces and the top of the base crimped around the separately cast figure.Size H 8" w 6" d 4"
Antique British Colonial Betel nut Brass Box with compartment, beautifully made with a piano hinge.Lockable but no key and the lock seems like it would work. Size just under 6" by 4" by 3"
Antique British Colonial Betel nut Brass Box with compartment, beautifully made with a piano hinge.Lockable but no key and the lock seems like it would work. Size just under 6" by 4" by 3"
Pair of Vintage Hindu Alabaster Deity alter Figures some losses as seen in pictures. Size 3.5" by 2.5"
Alabaster Hindu Figure of Shiva vintage Altar Piece. From India size 4" by 5"
Antique Hindu Jain Bronze Figure of a Horse c 1800-1850 , the horse has a peg on his rump where a figure slipped onto . Good worn condition. Size 7" by almost 5"
18th-19thc Indian Miniature Painting of Lovers on Camel bone plaque , the couple in Royal attire. good condition some slight scuffing to paint as seen
Size H 4" W 1.75"
Early Hindu Green Schist carved Altar Niche , well carved with a floral and geometric designs . This was a personal collection piece it is great to display small deity figurines. Great size for coffee table.
Size Approx 6" wide 9" high. interior base 3.5" W 1 3/4 " deep just under 6.22" at middle arch.
shamanic board deeply carved showing a shaman, seated and performing a ritual,wood with thick encrusted patina, size are 29x 16x 3 cm
Here is an archetype of the archaic statuary of western Nepal depicting a protector in standing position with hands clasped together in the ritual gesture of the Namaste, covered with an important black crusty patch of soot and offering, collected in a shamanic shrine in Jumla sector, very hard wood, evident signs of great age estimated at least from the middle 20th, H 70 cm, presented on a base metal
Old primitive mask with glossy back patina from East Nepal , Rai , Limbu , Kiranti people ? very hard wood , obvious signs of age , early 20th, H 29 cm.
A super fine phurba with a great black glossy patina, , the top shows four ancestor faces (3 cm) and four other miniature faces (2 cm) have been carved on top of the triangular blade , obviously very great age at least from 19th . Overall H 19 cm, presented on an iron stand.
Very original phurba showing two shamans or ancestors ( H 10 cm each) in the standing position on a monkey, the hands are joined in the Namasté gesture, very audacious and fine carving , the triangular blade is more rough and simple, superb black glossy patina, H 22 cm , presented on a metal stand. More information on local origin on request
A two-double janus ancestors which could seems rough at first glance but looking carefully reveals a peculiar design, the larger form is yet anthropomorphic with a superposed carved second human silhouette, the back side is similar. From Rukkum district, mid 20th, presented on an iron stand, H 24 cm:
A very typical figure from the remote Karnali area showing a so called "Protector" coated with white mineral pigment (Seto mato) mostly on the front side. The figure is in the standing position and was obviously kept inside. This kind of figures are associated with animist cult of protection of house or village. Few chips and a large crack which can be seen on the pictures but good overall condition...
Very old himalayan shamanic protector..
Very good condition and exceptional carving work. heavy and hard wood More pictures and information on request. estimated age at least from mid 20th, Height 65cm, Weight over 10 kg...
Old primitive statue figuring a protector the hands are joined, very hard wood with obvious sign of important age likely for the first part of 20th , important water erosion, H 80 cm
More information on request