The bone of this hair pin has a delicately carved cross hatch pattern and is decorated with strands of beads and small bronze bells and toped with cowrie shells. This hair ornament is Naga, which is a tribal culture in the hills of the north east region of India.
This elaborate beaded breastplate would have been worn for festivals by a wealthy Tibetan woman. The main section has 3 ornate silver and turquoise ornaments surrounded by a raised beaded coil which is bordered with cowrie shells. The neckline rolled and padded.
It is 13 inches across at the widest point and can be tied around the neck using the attached fabric ties.
This rare antique hand made snuff container was clearly owned by a wealthy Mongolian. It would have been suspended from a belt when worn for a festival ornament.
This is a very nicely carved old traditional Tibetan ritual Phurba and it is a bit worn from use. The Phurba was brought back to the US in the 60's by a man who had taken a year off and gone trekking about from Turkey across to Nepal.
The Phurba is a special triple sided Tibetan ritual stake, which originated as a stake that tethered sacrifical animals. Ritually used by the Buddhist priest to create an area of s ...click for details
This old drum from Nepal was used for festival and carried in parades. The man would use the left hand to hold the drum by the handmade ropes across the back of the drum. He would use the right hand to strike the drum skin. The chains and metal bits hanging from the bottom would add an extra "jangle" sound while drum moving. Clearly made as folk art instrument, the drum is somewhat out of round and about 18" at the widest diameter.
This bell is approximately 200 years old and was used on the camels crossing Tibet, NW China into Mongolia. It would be worn on a strap and hang loose below the camels belly between the legs. A light shake and the sound is deep and long. The bell in picture is 13" long and has a leather wrapped handle.
The Tibetans would fill the cylinder with hot oil and add copious amounts of tea leaves. Then they would take a plunger and use it to press the tea flavors into the oil. Although it is missing the plunger, the shape and the aged lemon wood make this Tibetan tea press a beautiful ethnographic object. It stands approximately 28 inches high and is 150 years old.
This old Tibetan copper Gau box is has a face plate etched with Dorjie and lotus symbols. One of the copper ring fittings has been resoldiered. The repair is poorly done but is old so I have left it intact. The gau box is 4 inches wide, 3 inches high plus another 1.5 inches to include the attachments and 1.5 inches deep. Because of its age and simplicity, it makes a nice ethnographic artifact.
This is a Tibetan Ritual Celestial Crown also know as a Diadem or Ringga. It is worn by a necromancer or oracle during rituals. The "crown" consists of 5 separate paintings on paper and each painting is backed with thin cardboard for stiffness. The sections are connected with string. When worn, the crown is tied around the head with string. The sections are painted with the five Dhayani, celestial Buddhas, each painted with his traditional color and gesture. Each section is 4 wid ...click for details
