Asian ethnic minority artifacts textiles, tribal arts, primitive Asian Ethnic Artifacts
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Indian Subcontinent : Himalayas : Pre 1900 item #1253876 (stock #T190)
Asian Ethnic Artifacts
$275.00
Very Nice patina on this old Tibetan Dorje. It is 7 inches long. The Tibetan Dorje is the equivalent of the India Buddhist symbol of Vajra or Thunderbolt which represents the masculine force....
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Indian Subcontinent : Himalayas : Pre 1910 item #1406975 (stock #T208)
Asian Ethnic Artifacts
Old wooden Phurba...nicely aged patina from handling and use... Faces topped with diadems, 3 side "blade"section has carved scroll design almost 11 inches long high. Alternative spelling...phurpa,phurbha, Pronunciation: Fur-bah The Phurba is a special triple sided Tibetan ritual dagger or stake, patterned after an ancient Vedic tool. Originated as a stake that tethered sacrificial animals...
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Indian Subcontinent : Himalayas : Pre 1900 item #1296812 (stock #T195)
Asian Ethnic Artifacts
$310.00
This old Tibetan pouch would have been worn for festival both for decoration and coins...it is not a flint strike...clearly it has been used (probably passed from generation to generation)...decorated with coral and turquoise...a few metal enhavcements are missiog...
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Indian Subcontinent : Himalayas : Pre 1920 item #1170809 (stock #T180)
Asian Ethnic Artifacts
This antique copper gau would have been kept in a prayer niche in the home and would be worn as an ornament for festival. In place of the Tsatsa (clay figure), there is a Tsakli. It was common practice to use a tsakli (small picture card) to represent the religious item which would be placed in the gau, when time and money became available. The original written talisman remains inside the gau also...
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Indian Subcontinent : Himalayas : Pre 1900 item #1297975 (stock #T197)
Asian Ethnic Artifacts
Lovely antique copper pot with ornate reposse silver decoration from Tibet. Probably used for butter tea...Roughly 13 inches high...heavy gauge copper with a few minor surface dents commensurate with age...Rare and gorgeous
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Indian Subcontinent : Himalayas : Pre 1920 item #716523 (stock #T119)
Asian Ethnic Artifacts
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. As is obvious in the pictures, there are a couple areas of lose on the turquoise ornaments.

All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Indian Subcontinent : Himalayas : Pre 1900 item #768862 (stock #T125)
Asian Ethnic Artifacts
$750.00
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.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Indian Subcontinent : Himalayas : Pre 1920 item #1253859 (stock #T188)
Asian Ethnic Artifacts
$135.00
Charming mythical creature from Nepal..head is separate and rotates in fitted sleeve...intricate metal work with raised enamel drops giving the appearance of stones...crature stands roughly 4 inches high...
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Indian Subcontinent : Himalayas : Pre 1920 item #1080134 (stock #T166)
Asian Ethnic Artifacts
This traditional small leather purse would have been used as an ornament and hung from a belt by a Tibetan woman during festival. It is heavily decorated with silver metal, turquoise and coral beads. This is an old one and is in excellent condition.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Indian Subcontinent : Himalayas : Pre 1900 item #1098178 (stock #ZT170)
Asian Ethnic Artifacts
Sale Pending
This Buddhist figure was cast in bronze and sewn into a leather case. It would have been carried in a pocket or worn hanging about the neck by the leather thong...a personal amulet or talisman meant for protection. Good condition, 4 the case in 4 inches high and 3 inches across at the widest point.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Indian Subcontinent : Himalayas : Pre 1920 item #1371130 (stock #T203)
Asian Ethnic Artifacts
This unusual small triangular shaped snuff bottle 2 of the 3 sides of the piece have carefully repouse Tibetan symbols..no makers marks...a few tiny dents ...no loss. It was brought back from Tibet by a man who went on a long walkabout from Istanbul to Tibet back in the late 60's...China was not open at the time...and Tibet ..he traveled with a backpack,limited space,few small momentoes and he was picky...old pieces only... bottle is approx 1.75 inches high
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Indian Subcontinent : Himalayas : Pre 1910 item #1012290 (stock #T151)
Asian Ethnic Artifacts
$650.00
Originally part of a full sized Tibetan adult costume, this piece was cut down to complete a childs festival costume. Decorated with turquoise, coins, tassels and silver ornaments, this type of textile accessory would often be attached to the elaborate headdress or hat and drape down the back to complete the wearers costume. The Tibetan people are not wastefull and items of festival garments in any condition are hard to acquire. I have had it hanging on my wall for a number of years...
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Indian Subcontinent : Himalayas : Pre 1900 item #1266191 (stock #T191)
Asian Ethnic Artifacts
$115.00
This small hand painted picture on cloth, called a Tsakli was used for Buddhist religious instruction and rituals in Tibet. The back of the card has Tibetan writing...Obvious condition issues...This card and others listed on this site were all antique cards when they were brought out of Tibet in the 60's...roughly 3x 4 inches
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Indian Subcontinent : Himalayas : Pre 1900 item #1310775 (stock #T198)
Asian Ethnic Artifacts
Lovely hinged old metal box with top depicting central figure of seated Quan Yin flanked with flying angels. All 4 sides of the box also have ornate filigree and stone work. Measures 7 x 3.5 x 1.25 inches. All metal work and stone work is intact but there are a few dents on the bottom of the box
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Indian Subcontinent : Himalayas : Pre 1900 item #1155377 (stock #T177)
Asian Ethnic Artifacts
This antique type of metal work was common in Nepal during the 1800's and into the early 1900's. The birds beak is carved from bone which is dyed to color. The "jewels" are colored glass i.e. enamel drops of orange, turquoise and dark brown. Beak to tail tip the bird measures 3.5 inches and stands 2 inches high. Very good condition with one "jewel" missing on the side.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Indian Subcontinent : Himalayas : Pre 1900 item #1406968 (stock #T)
Asian Ethnic Artifacts
$450.00
This Tibetan gau (aka prayer box) is actually a small shrine. When not being worn as an ornament during festivals, it would be kept in the prayer niche of the family home. The back of the box slides open. Frequently, a special prayer i.e. sutra pages would be placed inside. The small glass window at the front displays a Tsa tsa, which is a clay statue of a Buddhist Deity. These statues were made only by the monks and considered to be a holy relic...
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Indian Subcontinent : Himalayas : Pre 1920 item #1404229 (stock #ZT207)
Asian Ethnic Artifacts
sold
This woven Tibetan container would have been used to hold a pair of wooden tea bowls...there is an interior separator (removable) which allows for the separation of tea bowls. Hand made using plant materials (hemp) and rattan with leather closures Bowls would have been packed into container such as this when traveling... and from the condition of this one...it has traveled many times. The container is 6 inches diameter at the top and 4 inches high...well aged fair condition...
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Indian Subcontinent : Himalayas : Pre 1900 item #1183697 (stock #T182)
Asian Ethnic Artifacts
This antique copper reposse gau houses a picture instead of a clay tsa tsa which was common for a family gau. when the family could afford to do so, the picture would be replaced by a clay tsatsa. Curiously, this gau also houses 2 amulets, which were typically provided by a monk. The paper is very old and I am told it is bad Karma to unfold the amulet...