This kind of wooden phurba is found mostly in the foot hills and higher mountains of Nepal's
Himalayas. We have never seen one which could be convincingly assigned a Tibetan origin
although often they are mislabeled as Tibetan.
Of all the hundreds of phurbas we have handled this one stands out as
one of the most outstanding. It has a wonderful patina, the carving is
expressive, and the cloth dangles lend it ...click for details
Serving the simple function of holding the churn handle upright while butter was being made, these carved household objects from Nepal have evolved into a unique design and aesthetic with religious overtones. In fact a 461 page book has been published on the subject.
Although all the ghurras have been sold, our Trocadero item number 327665 includes a photograph of a ghurra as used in butter-making and a cover photo ...click for details
This kind of small rectangular pile carpet could have been used in a monastery or a domestic meditation room, or it could even have been used as the seat part of a saddle set. A very similar one is shown as pl. 239 in Tibetan Rugs, White Orchid Books.
The carpet is in good condition, natural dyes, and no reweaving. It measures 26-1/2 by 24 inches (67 x 61 cm.)
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 in ...click for details
The Tibetans never used movable type. They went directly
from hand-carved wood block pages to computer fonts. This
is a an example of how all their books were printed in
the pre-computer age. The letters
are a mirror image of how they will appear
on the page.
There was an elaborate process of producing these print blocks.
The wood had to be carefully selected and then put through a
long process of aging b ...click for details
The mountain villages of Nepal used to be full of wonderfully
carved wooden items no matter how humdrum the function. These examples
of a rich material culture are slowly vanishing as fashions change and
the older generations die out. Villages are no longer so isolated and
slick new imports replace what once had to be produced locally by hand.
This decorative stamp is fashioned from a single block of wood. It
...click for details
The mountain villages of Nepal used to be full of wonderfully
carved wooden items no matter how humdrum the function. These examples
of a rich material culture are slowly vanishing as fashions change and
the older generations die out. Villages are no longer so isolated and
slick new imports replace what once had to be produced locally by hand.
This traditional wooden wrist guard is a good example. Not only
di ...click for details
"She then offered homage to the divinity, blessing him with tikka
powder on his forehead..."
The chances are great that if this occurred in Nepal she was
carrying a tray arranged with flowers, offerings, and this special
"face box" to hold the tikka powder.
Made of bronze in the form of a woman's face, this box ...click for details
The Tharu people live in the Terai region of Nepal on the northern border of India. Their traditional religion has been greatly
influenced by Hinduism, yet traditional practices endure. Ceramic horses such as this one were made as offerings and were kept in
Tharu village shrines.
This terracotta horse measures 6 inches long and 4 inches high.
...click for details
