Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent (170)

Antique pair of kapala, Buddhist ritual skull cups made of silver and mixed metal. Each cup stands on a triangular shaped base with repoussé flames and skulls. The cups themselves are rimmed with rows of tiny skulls and have lids with vajra finials. Show ritual use.

Age: c19thc/early 20thc

Dimensions: 4 3/4" high x 3 3/4" wide

Antique Indian miniature painting of ladies in a harem. The wife or woman of highest stature is waited on by three lovely ladies. All four of the women are clothed in ornate textiles and with fine jewelry. The seated lady is being served wine in a small gold cup. Painted in gouache and gold on paper. Dates from the 18th/19th century.

Dimensions: 5 3/8" high x 3 1/2" wide

Antique Indian miniature painting of a scene with two beautiful ladies in a courtyard. It appears that the ladies picnic has been disturbed by the antics of a cat and bird. At their feet is a spread of fruit and wine. Also a small cage. One could imagine a scene where the bird has escaped and is being chased by the cat. The women pursue the cat and the escaped bird. White doves fly in the blue sky above the walls of the inner courtyard. Painted in gouache on paper...

Antique Indian miniature painting of Shrinathji, the 7-year-old manifestation of Krishna. He stands on a small platform with an umbrella over his head. A married couple offers food and drink. The architecture of the house is wealthy with intricately painted details. In the distance, clouds form. Undoubtedly this is a scene from one of Krishna's many stories...

Antique Indian Kangra School miniature painting of Annapoorani Amman. A scene where Annapurna (the goddess of Nourishment and a manifestation of Parvati) seated on a throne, gives food to her consort, Shiva. The story goes that Shiva challenged the need for all materialistic things including food. Parvati, in order to prove to Shiva that food was essential (especially to his followers) disappeared, creating a state of famine. Humans and gods suffered...

An antique Indian miniature panting of a noble man and woman in a courtyard. Two beauties wait on them. The woman is seated on a cushion on the porch of a pavilion. On the other side of the courtyard wall, birds fly over a lush garden. Other buildings can be seen on a hillside in the distance. In the foreground, a camel rests by a flowing fountain...

An antique Indian miniature panting of a noble man with his harem. Five beauties vie for his attention. Two musicians play music in the foreground. In the background is the architecture of elaborate archways and doors which lead to the inner courtyard. The edges of the paper are decorated with sprays of flowers.
Wealthy residences had a protected area where all the women of the house lived. This scene takes place just inside the antahpur (inner courtyard) of such an area...

Chinese/Tibetan antique rectangular pillar rug with blue five-clawed dragon. The elongated middle section of the dragon exits the plane of the rug on either side. The dragon has five claws and is woven in shade of blue on a yellow ground with wisps of clouds and auspicious symbols. Details like it's teeth are woven in white and it's nose, tongue and flames are a coral color...

An antique Indian miniature panting of harem musicians. Three beauties sit on an ornately decorated carpet and pillows. Two of them play instruments while a third claps in time. Around them is a lush garden with birds and a fountain. In the background, a marble pavilion stands with an ornate red and gold canopy...

An antique Tibetan religious storage cabinet used for food preparation with lift-off cover. Hand painted front panel depicting a scene featuring a seated Buddha with worshippers, a temple, elephants, a deer, a monkey, ducks, horse, a rabbit, and a wise man surrounded by attendants. The panel is framed with an arabesque design.

Age: 18th Century

Dimensions: 48" Wide by 27 1/4" High by 13 3/4" Deep

Antique Indian bronze sculpture of the elephant headed Hindu god Ganesha, known as the Remover of Obstacles. He stands in dance position, a crown on his head and garland of flowers around his shoulders. In four hands he holds his attributes including his goad or ax (cut off all bonds of attachment), a bowl of sweets (the whole world is at your feet and for your asking) and the end of his broken tusk (keep the good, throw away the bad). His eyes are of inlaid silver.

Age: Late 19th...

Antique Tibetan figure of a seated Lohan, one of the 18 arhats of Buddha. He sits with one knee supporting his left hand which is outstretched, holding an object while gesturing in the Karana mudra (dispelling demons). He holds his right hand at chest level. His facial features are intense and his mouth slightly open to reveal rows of small teeth. His hair is cropped short and maintains the remnants of black pigment. His patchwork robe is draped over his left shoulder, falling around him i...

Antique Tibetan gilt bronze figure of the Bodhisattava, Avalokiteshvara. The Luminous Lord of Infinite Compassion sits in padmasana position with his hands held in front of his chest in the complex dharmachakra mudra. Also called the teaching mudra and "spinning the wheel of the Law", dharmachakra relates the Buddha's teaching in the forest of Sarnath. Avalokiteshvara wears a 5 pointed crown and other princely jewels but also has the long locks of an ascetic. The compassion in his expression ...

Antique Indian jeweled tassel. Suspend from a Chinese hardwood display stand, this Indian tassel is woven with gold, threaded with pearls and ends with a umbrella form over a tiny bell - all set with pearls, emeralds, rubies and diamonds in 18k gold.

Age: Mughal Empire (1526-1857) circa 18th/19th century

Dimensions: Tassel size: 4 1/4" high x 1 1/4" wide. Size including display stand: 7 3/4" high x 4 3/8" wide x 3" deep

Antique Indian miniature panting of a harem scene. Wealthy residences had a protected area where all the women of the house lived. This scene takes place in the antahpur (inner courtyard) of such an area. A wealthy prince is entertained by three beauties. Around them is a lush garden with a fountain and a marble pavilion. Richly painted in gouache, ink and gold on paper. Framed.

Provenance: Ed Hardy Estate

Age: Mughal Empire (circa 18th century)

Dimensions: Size...

A pair of antique Rajasthan architectural fragments of warriors on horseback against foot soldiers. Hardwood mounted to a removable stand. Some loss to the carvings.

Age: 18th C

Approximate Dimensions Each: 9" Wide by 17" High by 4 1/2" Deep

Pair of antique Tibetan snow lions. Made of gilded bronze with polychrome details. Wild, open mouthed expressions and paws over heads. These lions were once part of a Buddhist display. Snow lions are thought to be the king of beasts to the Tibetan people. They personify joy and bliss and represent the hermits and yogis that live in the Himalayas. It is believed that the milk of the snow lioness is the essence of the Dharma.

Age: 18th century

Dimensions of each on a cust...

Antique thangka painting with Buddha seated high above and also ascending from a heavenly realm. A palace below with many llamas and attendants. An altar is spread with auspicious objects. At the very bottom of the scene, figures relax in palace rooms flanking a garden. Painted in mineral colors on cotton.

Age: circa 1900

Dimensions: 56" high x 43 1/2" wide

Antique Indian carved wooden doors. Made of heavy hardwood and ornately carved with rosettes and scrolling vines. The upper portion has a window made of two hinged carved panels. The lower portion is decorated with a series of three-dimensional roundels.

Age: 19th century

Dimensions: 77 1/2" high (79 1/2" high with dowels) x 43" wide

Antique Indian necklace of 19 large silver beads. Strung on twine with a large amber bead for closure. Each bead is subtly fluted, collared and has rich patination.

Age: circa 1900

Dimensions: 17" long (each bead is 1 3/8" long)

Antique Indian Bindriware lidded container. Made of iron with fine gold inlaid designs of scrolling vines and flowers. A rounded body sits on a high foot with a round base. Two handles on either side continue the scrolling floral pattern. This type of metal work originates from the area of Bindar, India and has long been valued as a symbol of wealth.

Age: circa 1880

Dimensions: 6 1/4" high x 7" long x 5" wide

Antique Indian Bindriware vase. Made of bronze with silver overlay and incised designs of scrolling vines and flowers. This type of metal work originates from the area of Bindar, India and has long been valued as a symbol of wealth.

Age: 19th century

Dimensions: 10 3/4" high x 5 1/4" wide

Antique Tibetan horse saddle. Made of wood and decorated with red lacquer flowers and scrolling vines on a black lacquer ground. Horse riding on in Tibet is especially popular on the plateau of Western Tibet where the Kampa horsemen have held traditional horse races and festivals for generations. This saddle comes with a custom metal stand.

Age: 19th century

Dimensions: 10" high x 18" long x 14 1/2" wide (17" high on stand)

Antique Himalayan small silver Buddha Sakyamuni seated in vajrasana position on a lotus throne. His feet are folded in his lap in vajraparyankasana and his right hand reaches down in bhumispara mudra. His expression is compassionate with downcast eyes and a slight smile. The bottom of the base is covered in copper.

Age: 19th century

Dimensions: 3 1/8" high x 2" wide x 1 5/8" deep

Antique Himalayan tsha tsha (small votive plaque) depicting White Tara seated on a lotus throne. White Tara (the Mother of all Buddhas) is worshipped as the embodiment of the maternal aspect of compassion. Her seven eyes allow her to see all suffering.
Tsha Tsha were cast of clay mixed with ground incense and sacred ash. They were dried in the sun and painted with polychrome pigments. Small votives like this one were left as offerings at spiritual sites along a pilgrim's route. This t...

Antique Himalayan tsha tsha (small votive plaque) depicting a red bodhisattva seated on a lotus throne. Tsha Tsha were cast of clay mixed with ground incense and sacred ash. They were dried in the sun and painted with polychrome pigments. Small votives like this one were left as offerings at spiritual sites along a pilgrim's route.

Age: 18th century

Dimensions: 3 3/4" high x 3 1/8" wide x 1 3/8" deep

Antique Tibetan pair of offering bowls. Each bowl is carved of burl wood and has an ornate silver foot decorated with cabochons of coral and turquoise. The silver bottom of each bowl is incised with a scene of mother and baby fu lions. The bowls have interiors that have been lined and edged with silver.

Age: 19th century

Dimensions of each: 2 1/2" high x 6 1/4" wide

Antique Indian bronze figure of Krishna. Standing in a relaxed pose with his flute in hand. He is bejeweled and wears a pleated dhoti. Long strands of hair fall to his shoulders. Behind his tall headdress is a sun disk. Krishna and his consort, Radha together represent the ideal relationship of love between god and soul. Beautiful original patina and hand rubbed finish.

Age: Early to mid 19th century

Dimensions: 11 7/8" high x 4" wide x 4" deep.

Antique Nepalese Hindu priest's bronze bangle bracelet. Made with intricate and highly raised Shiva symbols and animals.

Age: 19th century

Dimensions: 4" wide diameter

Tibetan antique set of 3 heads from a khatvanga ritual staff. The Tantric (esoteric) Buddhist ceremonial staff would have been held by an advanced practitioner during ceremonies and was a sacred object assisting in the rule over subtle bodies of energy. The three human heads (fresh, dried and bare skull), which once adorned the top of the staff in a stacked position, represent the 3 poisons of lust, hate and delusion. These skulls are made of gilt copper repoussé and strung with cotton clot...

Antique Tibetan kangling, a trumpet made for use in Buddhist chöd rituals and funerals. The kangling was played by the practitioner as an act of fearlessness and compassion, drawing out the hungry spirits so that they may have their suffering relieved. Kangling, which literally translates as "leg flute", were traditionally made of either a human tibia or femur and preferably that of a criminal or someone who died a violent death. The leg bone of a respected teacher was also acceptable. ...

Antique Himalayan mask of Bhairava carved of rock crystal with skulls and brows in gilt copper repousse. Bhairava, also known as "The Terrifying One" gained his reputation for having a wild and unpredictable nature when he cut off one of the five heads of the god, Brahma. Bhairava was generated out of the god Shiva when he became angry while listening to the vain boastings of Brahma. Bhairava, the furious aspect of Shiva is worshipped by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. He is also considered the ...

Antique Himalayan lidded box for Buddhist ritual use. Cylindrical form with four feet. Decorated with mixed metal inlay of silver and copper. The sides with a central band of heads and skulls. The lid with double vajra motif and an outer band of intricately inlaid silver coils.

Age: 18th century

Dimensions: 4 1/2" high x 4" wide

Antique Himalayan ritual dagger, phurba, carved of bone with skulls, makara and nagas. Phurba usually have three sides while this one is unusual in that it has two. The purpose of the phurba is it's ritual use to subdue the powers of evil and transform them into positive forces. The various elements of the phurba are symbolic - the lower part (or blade) represents "Method" and the handle represents "Wisdom". The bone material of this phurba is especially significant for it's power to drive ...

An incredible Tibetan gilt bronze dynamic figure of Vajrabhairava, the wrathful form Manjushri. In Tibetan: dor je jig je, pa wo chigpa. In English: The Solitary Hero Vajra Terror. Vajrabairava is part of the practice of Yamataka (of the Gelug tradition). In this sculpture, Vajrabairava is locked in tantric embrace with his female counterpart. He has 9 faces, the central face being of a buffalo and the uppermost head that of Manjushri. He is flanked on either side by 34 arms, each hol...

Unusual antique Tibetan gau ghao (gao). Used as a portable shrine that hangs around the neck, a gao is usually a box filled with prayers written on cloth around a central deity visible through a window. This gao is flat but it is similar to the traditional gao in that it has a central deity and a window cut out of leather. The outside of the pouch, like that of the traditional box shrine, is decorated with Buddhist symbols (lotus flower, conch shell, umbrella, eternal knot, etc.) made of...