Tibetan Buddhist Set of 108 Butter Lamps

Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas Pre 1940: item #349327
19249

For Tibetan Buddhists 108 is an auspicious number. 108 beads make up a Buddhist prayer mala and 108 butter lamps make up a set.

Tiny lamps like this are lit on numerous occasions and lighting them is considered a form of worship or meditation. In addition to larger and more elaborate butter lamps somewhere in a Tibetan monastery there is inevitably an assemblage of one or several sets of these tiny lamps also burnin... Click for details

Big thangka Vajrapani

Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas Pre 1950: item #324061
TCV001

This is a relatively big thangka of Vajrapani, probably done in eastern Tibet circa the 1930-1950. In the center is dark blue Vajrapani, holding a vajra with his right hand and shaking his left forefinger in righteous anger. He is clothed in a tiger skin dhoti, and steps on two entwined snakes. He has three eyes and a five-skull crown, as is true of other protector and fierce deities. On top are two sitting lamas and in their midst is Garuda, the bird man. Below is the dark blue wealth deity, J... Click for details

Shamanic Phurba 6 , Himalaya

Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas Pre 1950: item #303126
2-0054

A Phurba, also called shamanic knife, is a ritual dagger used to drive away evil spirits or negativity. This is a very old piece coming from Tamang peoples, built on the classical three-side symmetrical model. The top part represents three human faces, which have been bitten probably by mice a long time ago. The central part is the grip and represents the tibetan design of a dorje, also called vajra. The lower part which represents a three-side blade, is very simple, showing three snakes. Note... Click for details

Shamanic Phurba 5 , Himalaya

Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas Pre 1920: item #303096
2-0053

A Phurba, also called shamanic knife, is a ritual dagger used to drive away evil spirits or negativity. This is a very old piece coming from Tamang people built on the classical three-side symmetrical model. However, the top part represents three human faces, unfortunately the top is broken as the three summits of the head were joined in the namaste position . The central part represents the tibetan design of a dorje, also called vajra. The lower part, which represents a three-side blade, is ve... Click for details

Bone Chess Set, Nepal

Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas Pre 1960: item #292244
56-07

Finely carved chessmen patterned after Himalayan and Indian princes and their subjects make up this mid-20th century bone chess set from Nepal. Both kings wear elaborate costumes; one is carved with 10 handsome mustachioed faces, the other in hunting regalia with his long hair hanging down his back. The buxom queens have heavy brows and wear patterned head scarves. Knights are winged horses, rooks are elephants, bishops are camels and pawns are long-haired attendants in uniform. These hand carve... Click for details

Mid 20th Century Tibetan Thangka

Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas Pre 1970: item #133722
44-63

The Buddhist teacher, Padmasambhava, who traveled from India to Tibet in the eighth century, is shown as the focal point in this traditional thangka. The scholar is recognized for merging the deities of Tibet's older Bon religion into Tibetan Buddhism. This thangka was painted in Nepal in 1960 or so as Tibetans began leaving Tibet in large numbers following the exile of the Dalai Lama. It is painted on cloth and bordered with the traditional red, yellow and blue silk. The silk is backed with hea... Click for details

Tibetan folk art - prayer wheel

Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas Pre 1940: item #110004
T2006

Tibetan prayer wheel, with Tibetan language prayer notes. Very good condition.

Tibetan folk art - wooden jewelry box

Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas Pre 1950: item #100006
T2005

This carved Tibetan wooden jewelry box has complex carving and is meticulously well maintained.

Tibetan folk art - Mask

Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas Pre 1950: item #99998
T2004

Tibetan folk art - Mask. This interesting piece of wall hanging is a typical image in Tibetan culture. This wooden mask was hand painted and hand carved. 9" x 6".

Antique Himalayan Buckle Mounted On Box

Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas Pre 1920: item #13690
30AAA

This cigarette box was ordered in the Thirties by a famous Hollywood director; he provided the antique jeweled Tibetan belt buckle to a Hong Kong jeweler to be mounted up in a manner suitable to the piece. The copper box was plated in nickel which very closely matches the tone of the low-grade silver surrounding the agate, carnelian, turquoise and coral antique creation. The buckle is beautifully enhanced by its setting, but is free-standing and can be removed if so desired. The box is lined ... Click for details