A beautiful bronze temple bell with twisted stem and with two Garudas seated under the protective roof of the Cobra as a finial, Nepalese, 18th.-19th. century AD.
With a stunning brown patina and inscribed with short inscription in Sanskrit on the side of the bell.
Size: 20,7 cm. tall and weighing c. 720 grams.
Ex...
Architectorial carving of a temple alter, Northern India / Gandhara, early-mid 1st. millenium AD.
A very artful carving and quite decorative as well, depicting a building housing an alter and flanked by large collumns. The back uncarved and it would have been carved into a rock wall.
Finely mounted, floating on a black metal base.
Size: 35 cm. tall, incl. the mounting, 24 cm. for the temple alone. 16 cm. deep and 20 cm. wide...
18th century Indian framed watercolor of a maiden wearing rich clothes and holding a flower in one hand and what is probably a long necked perfume bottle in the other. Excellent delicate painting, superb detailing, has good presence. Old tear above her head as seen on photos, overall in very good condition. Framed and glazed, image in sight 5 1/2 x 3 3/4 inches, frame 11 5/8 x 9 1/2 inches.
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
A beautiful seated bronze figure of a seated female deity, Hinduism, India, c. 18th. century.
Small figure that we believe could be a figural weight; of a female deity seated on a stepped throne with vertical lines. She is seated crosslegged with the Vishnu style crown and holding an ever?.Come from a collection only holding antique opium weights
Superb glossy old patina, so we think it has quite some age to it.
Heright 6 cm...
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
A very attractive and rare early Indian votive representation of buddha, c. 16th.-17th. century or even earlier.
A smaller standing figure of buddha wearing with a long cape and crown and adorned with jevellery, remnants of gilt(?), 8,8 cm. tall.
Condition: Choice and intact with a wonderful warm redish brass patina.
Ex. Old Private Collection.
Miniature 18th century Indian bronze shrine for a home altar in a form of a courtyard with generally recognizable figures of Shiva, his wife Parvati, Naga (hooded cobra), and facing them their elephant-headed son Ganesha, another Naga, Nandi the bull of Shiva and Shiva lingam. Very nice simple devotional sculpture with earnest casting and detailing, good patina from being touched during worship, a lot of compressed dust, very pleasant feel of age. Length 15/16 inches.
Deity head in hammered bronze. The bronze is very thick, the ears are cast separately and welded. The hair is perfectly chiseled with a lot of elegance. The patina is verdigris and recalls that of ancient Roman bronzes. It is highly probable that this head was buried for several centuries. We were unable to locate it geographically. India, Himalayas, Afghanistan, Swat valley....? The appearance of the metal and its patina would indicate a high period of several centuries...
A small carved wooden stele from Nepal of a Buddhist or more likely Hindu deity, maybe Indra. Bejeweled god with a fan-shaped crown, seated on a lotus base in lalita-sana under a mandorla. Traces of vermilion. Condition: see photos, wear, and small losses. Dimension: total height: c. 17.3 cm, c. 10.3 cm wide, c. 5 cm deep.
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)
A high quality large bronze figure of the seated Indra, Nepal, c. 19th. century.
A artfully modelled figure. Normally this fine type is from around 13 cm. to max 21 cm. - our figure is no less than 27 cm. and thus also very broad and heavy for it's type!
The bronze with semiprecious stone inlays depicting the deity seated in maharajalilasana (royal ease), dressed in a dhoti, adorned with jewels and a crown...
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
An attractive brass or white bronze alter / shrine of Virabhadra (Shiva with attendants), Western India, difficult to date, but we think it's at least 18th.-19th. century, but likely somewhat older.
Virabhadra, or Veerabhadra, is a fierce aspect of Shiva, who manifested following an unforgiveable insult made to Shiva’s wife, Sati, by her father, Prajapati Daksh. The central figure in the shrine is Virabhadra, a hero-warrior...
Antique Himalayan tsha tsha (small votive plaque) depicting White Tara seated on a lotus throne...
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
Strand of ancient Afghani glass beads, circa Roman era. These are original beads (not re-carved bangles or glass vessel fragments). Some are decorated with gold leaf, others exhibit dichroism. Traces of calcification. A total of 27 beads (note 3 are broken). Total length: 50cm/19.8cm- note last enlargement for scale- 17 grams. Free shipping.
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.
Large mask representing the face of Mahakala with its typical terrifying expression, the features being carved in relief and the mouth in openwork showing teeth . At the top of the back of the head a small cylinder has been carved on a small platform. This cylinder was meant to contain a horse hair (often of white coulour), to decorate the mask. Wood, with obvious signs of great age and remains of woodworm attack (no more danger). Old accidents and old and local restorations on top of mask. Bhut...
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
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 attractive copper and brass food container from Tibet. I am attracted by its simplicity and note that the copper part is brass brazed with a large dovetail seam around the middle.
Approximately 28.5cm high. One or two small dents from use.
Please study the photographs.
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A deeply carved wooden lintel, dating to circa the mid-19th century, possibly earlier. The carving is detailed and in excellent condition. Chief among the figures is "Kamadhenu," a winged female deity with the body of a cow and the head of a human. The piece measures 30" in length (80cm) and is 9" in height (22cm).
A nice pair of large antique wooden textile stamps, dating to 15th.-17th cent AD.
Hand carved wood stamps with geometrical and floral motifs for coloring textiles.
Size: 18,5 & 9 cm. - c. 7,5 & 3,5 inches.
Condition: Choice & intact comdition. Fine old patinas.
Ex. German Private collection.
Head of a deity, probably one of the Hindu deities. However, the shape of the top of the head and the presence of a usnisa above the forehead may suggest that this is an early representation of the head of Buddha. The head is made of wood, with a beautiful dark brown crusty patina. India, 15th/16th century. Height: 21 cm. Very good condition despite a few age cracks.
Shaman's bracelet used during rituals meant to favor crops. Tha bracelet is decorated with two stylised men, each standing behind a plough drawn by two oxen. The rest of the decor consists in stylised plants and a circle (the sun?). The bracelet is made of bronze, with a beautiful patina. Himalayan Region, early 19th century, probably earlier. Inside diameter: around 8 cm. Very good condition. A very rare piece.
Wood mask, with strong features, of a Mahakala. Dark brown glossy patina. Bhutan, 19th century. Height: 28.5 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Very good condition. NOTE: collected in Nepal in 1978.
An exceptionally large and heavy bronze figure of Radha, Wife of Krishna, VAishnava Devotional og Bhakti traditions of Hinduism, 16th.-17th. century AD.
Very attractive figure of solid bronze with no core, Radha is in a standing posture with her arms, protruding round breasts, semi-nude addorned with jevellery.
Height 27 cm. excl. the wooden base. The weight is more than 3 kilograms!
Ex. Danish Auction house, estimated at $1000-$1300.
An elegant double-bell shaped Indian spitoon made of zinc alloy, decorated with poppy motifs, inlaid in silver. Condition: few inlay losses (see first and photo No. 11 and 12). Dimension: c. 15.3 cm high, diameter: c. 12.1 cm, weight: 1020 g.
Child Jesus as a Good Shepherd ivory statuette on a pedestal. He is naked and his face is gently leaned. His hairs are sculpted in fine strand of hair shaping curls. His almond eyes and his fixed look suggest a mystic and pensive attitude. The Christ child is seated, he is in a deeply meditation. In accordance with the classic representation of Salvator Mundi (“Savior of the World”) he holds a globe in his hands and lean on his visage his other hand, index finger and his middle finger...
A silver box with hinged lid, standing on four ball feet the base with Arabic inscription. An oblong silver tray on four feet and a fine small dish. Condition: some traces of usage, box not closing completely. Dimension: box: c. 12.6 x 6.9 x 4.4 cm, weight: 211 g, oblong tray: c. 16.5 x 11.5 x 1.2 cm, weight: 148 g, dish: 11 x 0.7 cm, weight: 44 g.
18th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of Radha beautifully flexing her body, her arms wide spread, a betel nut in her right hand, cast in the State of Orissa. Radha is a Hindu goddess and a chief consort of the god Krishna and is worshiped as the goddess of love, tenderness, compassion and devotion. She is the avatar of Lakshmi and is also described as the chief of gopis (milkmaids), who are entranced by Krishna playing flute. Krishna’s flute is the call of the divine and Radha's passion...
18th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of dancing Krishna playing a flute, cast in the State of Orissa. This avatar of Vishnu playing flute for gopis is known as Krishna Venugopala (as always in this image, flute was cast separately, and is missing). Excellent casting and detailing (see his eyes inlaid with silver), wonderful face, beautiful patina, very pleasant feel of age to the sculpture. Height 5 7/8 inches.
18th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of dancing Krishna playing a flute, cast in the State of Orissa. This avatar of Vishnu playing flute for gopis is known as Krishna Venugopala (as always in this image, flute was cast separately, and is missing). Excellent casting and detailing (see the loose ends of his tied loincloth), wonderful face, beautiful patina, very pleasant feel of age to the sculpture. Height 5 1/4 inches.
18th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of Ganesha sitting on a rectangular throne with probhavali at his back, his vahana (vehicle) - a bandicoot rat - by his left foot, and holding his usual attributes in his 4 hands. This Ganesha has his trunk turned to the left, and it is strongly advisable for worshippers to keep left sided Ganesha statue at home. They are believed to be representing Ida Nadi (lunar energy) with its moonlike nature and feminine energy with a cooling effect. Ganesha is t...
18th century votive Indian bronze sculpture depicting the mother goddess Durga standing on the back of her vehicle - a roaring lion - and slaying the buffalo demon Mahishasura. Durga is the most powerful female deity in the Hindu pantheon. She is grabbing the hair of the demon with one hand while holding in her back hands various weapons symbolic of the attributes of all the gods given to her to slay the demon. Wonderful bronze with powerful casting and detailing, beautiful patina and wear, stro...
18th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of Ganesha sitting on a rectangular throne, with his vahana (vehicle) - a bandicoot rat - in his lap, and holding his usual attributes in his 4 hands. There is a protective naga (cobra) above his head. Ganesha is the remover of obstacles, and thus is invoked before any new undertaking such as marriage or new business. He bestows good luck on his worshippers, and is prayed to in some forms of Tantric worship. With Ganesha being a destroyer of obstacles ...
18th century votive Indian bronze sculpture depicting the mother goddess Durga slaying the buffalo demon Mahishasura, with her right foot resting on the back of her vehicle - a roaring lion. Durga is the most powerful female deity in the Hindu pantheon. She has a spear in one front hand, and is grabbing the hair of the demon with the other. In her back hands Durga holds various weapons symbolic of the attributes of all the gods given to her to slay the demon. Wonderful bronze with powerful casti...
18th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of Ganesha sitting on an elevated base and holding his usual attributes in his 4 hands. There is a protective naga (cobra) wrapped around his waist. Ganesha is the remover of obstacles, and thus is invoked before any new undertaking such as marriage or new business. He bestows good luck on his worshippers, and is prayed to in some forms of Tantric worship. Very nice casting and detailing, beautiful warm patina, wonderful feel of age produced by devotio...
18th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of Nandi - the vehicle of Shiva, or sometimes considered to be a form of Shiva himself. It rests wearing rich trappings in front of Shiva lingam. Very nice casting, wonderful feel of age produced by devotional wear and compressed sandalwood paste used during worship. Very good devotional object, pleasant to hold. Length 2 inches.
Small 18th century Indian bronze shrine in a form of a courtyard with Shiva, his wife Parvati and Naga (hooded cobra) between them, and facing them their elephant-headed son Ganesha, Nandi the bull of Shiva, another Naga (hooded cobra) and Shiva lingam. Very nice simple devotional sculpture with earnest casting and detailing, good patina from being touched during worship, a lot of compressed dust, very pleasant feel of age. Length 1 3/16 inches.
Interesting and beautiful large procession lance, Indian or South East Asian, ca. 17th.18th. century.
The lance very elaborate with a huge leaf-shaped blade, decorated with a zig-zag pattern, and a central high relief midrib. The socket edged.
A very high end lance, solidly made of brassy bronze like the South Indian sculptures. Could also be african / Benin but we don't think so since the casting is different and the design does not look african. A puzzling piece and we welcome any...
18th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of dancing Krishna playing a flute, cast in the State of Orissa. This avatar of Vishnu playing flute for gopis is known as Krishna Venugopala (as always in this image, flute was cast separately, and is missing). Powerful casting, wonderful face, beautiful patina, very pleasant feel of age to the sculpture. Height 6 1/2 inches.
Early 19th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of Radha beautifully flexing her body, her arms wide spread and hair arranged in a bun. Radha is a Hindu goddess and a chief consort of the god Krishna and is worshiped as the goddess of love, tenderness, compassion and devotion. She is the avatar of Lakshmi and is also described as the chief of gopis (milkmaids), who are entranced by Krishna playing flute. Krishna’s flute is the call of the divine and Radha's passionate response to this call i...
18th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of Radha beautifully flexing her body, her arms wide spread, a betel nut in her right hand, and her hair arranged in a bun, cast in the State of Orissa. Radha is a Hindu goddess and a chief consort of the god Krishna and is worshiped as the goddess of love, tenderness, compassion and devotion. She is the avatar of Lakshmi and is also described as the chief of gopis (milkmaids), who are entranced by Krishna playing flute. Krishna’s flute is the call o...
Late 19th to early 20th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of Ganesha sitting on Mooshika - a bandicoot rat that serves as Ganesha’s vehicle - on rectangular base. Ganesha is the remover of obstacles, and thus is invoked before any new undertaking such as marriage or new business. He bestows good luck on his worshippers, and is prayed to in some forms of Tantric worship. With Ganesha being a destroyer of obstacles and the deity of wealth, Mooshika the rat is perfect for the job: he gnaws t...
A large Kashmir lidded presentation cup with handles in serpent form. Allover with foliage design. Condition: fine, traces of usage, some wear to tinning. Dimension: c. 36.5 cm high, handle to handle: c. 29.5 cm, weight: 2 kg.
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...
A fine pair of Kashmir lidded jars or vases. The copper base was first engraved with special tools to create the design in relief, the grooves were later filled with glass and then embellished with additional engraving and wonderful shiny gilding. This technique is called in India "meena" or "meenakari" and was first applied by the Mughal. Condition: fine, only one rim with a small dent and minor wear to gilding. Dimension: c. 18 cm high, diameter: c. 12.5 cm, total weight:
An unusual model of Phurba in lost wax cast bronze and gilded with mercury. Iron blade. The handle is made up of a whole bust of the deity and not just a head as we can usually find it. Known models with busts are extremely rare, there are 2 or 3 in the museums of Delhi. Examination shows us that it is not a montage from a cut statuette but that the bust was cast especially for this Phurba. The lower part of the skull necklace was broken and lost; it was replaced. The iron blade, very oxidized, ...
Two(2) Tibetan Himalayan large Coral Beads, 24mm x 13mm(15/16" x 1/2"), purchased in Tibet prior to 1980.
Tibetan Himalayan Coral Large Bead, Drum shape, 20mm x 21mm(7/8" x 7/8"). Purchased in Tibet prior to 1980.
Antique Indian painting of two men riding on the back of a camel. Beautiful detail work in their garments and hair. The quick gait of the camel is conveyed in it's wide steps and the backward motion of the tassels and drapery. Painted in gouache pigments on paper. Framed.
Age: 18th/ 19th century
Dimensions: Art: 9 3/8" high x 9 5/8" wide. Frame: 18 3/8" high x 18 3/8" wide.
Impressive Blackstone stele of Surya the Sungod, Pala period, 10th.-11th. cent. AD.
A carving in grey-black stone depicting Surya holding lotuses, riding a chariot drawn by seven horses, each depicting a day of the week and named after the seven meters of Sanskrit prosody, Gayatri, Brihati, Ushnih, Jagati, Trishtubha, Anushtubha and Pankti. His charioteer is Arun, the dawn, brother of Garuda and he has no legs.
He is flanked by the two goddesses of dawn, Usha and Pratyusha ...
Four wonderfully executed oval Indian paintings of Mughal rulers in gouache and gold on paper. Framed behind glass in a gilt wooden frame, in France in the 19th century. The passe-partout with handwritten titles as: "Shah Ichan" (Jahan?), "Shah Alum" (Alam), "Azime Shah" and "Miran Shah". Reverses with the label of the framer. Condition: the frames with traces of usage and age and small losses, one frame damaged. Dimension: portraits: c. 9.5 x 7.5 cm, frames: 24 x 20 cm.