Fine and rare old rattan “tali” basket with a contracted mouth from the Idu Mishmi ethnic group of Arunachal Pradesh, India. In India they are primarily animist but in China where they are known as the Lhoba they have a strong spiritual affiliations with Tibetan Buddhism. Google “Bamboo and Cane Culture of Arunchal Pradesh” and you will get a good description of this regional craft...

Antique Tibetan silver incense burner in three pieces. Created as a smaller version of a kapala (skull cup) ritual vessel for Buddhist ceremonies. The censor seats into a triangular base covered with designs of swirling mist and Sanskrit symbols. The lid is similarly decorated and has a vajra finial.

Age: 19th century

Dimensions: 7 3/4" high x 4 1/4" wide x 4 1/2" wide

Antique Tibetan or Nepalese Buddhistic Thangka / Tangka, gouache on canvas, second half of the 19th century. In original condition, fastened to a wooden stick and o be rolled up with a cinnamon-brown silk cover to protect the painting which is framed by silk brocade of the same colour. The back with the name of the artist, a Buddhistic monk, finely inscribed in red. The picture itself represents one hundred boddhisatvas in various sizes and positions among clouds...

A fine lot of 5 metal items from the same collection:

a) Leather, silver, gilded brass, copper, corals. Wallet in form of vajra, 12 x 7,5cm. b) Silver, copper, with turquoise and corals. Gunpowder container in form of a horn, L ca 20cm. c) Silver gau container with a coral and four glass stones, H 11,5cm.. d) Bronze alloy, silvered tingsha cymballs with dragons, ca. 7,5 cm. in diameter. e) Brass vajra. 19th - early 20th century, L 12,8cm.

Traces of usage...

The hip-length coat of mail made of riveted rings, with a short back slit and long sleeves. Three fish-shaped buckles are riveted onto the two large, integrated plates in the chest area. Two narrower plates attached at each of the sides, followed by three rows of overlapping discs on the back. The outside of the right breastplate bearing a long inscription in Hindi, the inside bears a shorter in Devangari, on the left an inscription in arabic.

Size: ca. 80 cm...

An Mughal Indian Brass Water Flask, Surai. The elegant vessel with a screw top. Heavily cast and with turned decoration. Deccan, N India 19thc. Height: 11 3/4" (29.8 cm). Condition; very good, has been polished.

A pierced fragment of an antique Tibetan or Nepalese torana, worked in copper repousse with remains of gilding and colors. Showing a caparisoned elephant with a snow lion on his back, lifting a deity riding on the mythical beast "sharabha". Condition: wear to gilding, slightly warped. Dimension: 36.5 cm high x 15 cm widw x 2.5 cm deep.

Set of 9 Mongolian buddhist paintings. 19th century. Pigments on cotton. Each approx 20x15cm In custom made frame. Can be viewed in central London by appointment. And shipped worldwide.

Tibetan Himalayan Monastery Monk's Pray Table used in the Monastery, Ca. 1800's, 31" wide, 23" high, 13 1/4" deep, Lacquered on top of raised design low relief design of the scrolling vines on the both sides and Snow Lions Face in front upper section, large carved Buddhist Lotus Leaves on the bottom section. This Pray Table is in original old condition, no restorations or any new lacquer finish added...

This is an antique Tibetan portable altar table used by a high lama to perform ritual ceremonies and prayers. It is decorated with curtain front cut-out panels that have a central snow lion carving and it is surrounded by beautiful articulated cloud formation. On the outer frame, it has a pho bamboo carving and beyond that is a scrolling lotus motif...

These two saddle rugs, in knotted pile, are forming a pair and were used together: the larger piece with trapezoid ends served as a saddle cloth (makden), while the smaller rug was a saddle cover (masho). Both items are in their original condition, with a red trim and backed with a coarse beige fabric. Provenance: old Swiss collection. Dimension approx.: makden: 120.5 x 67 cm, masho: 82.5 x 66 cm. Condition: signs of age and wear, rims with partial discoloration, faded.

Antique Nepali Sarangi Musical String Instrument with script and sublimely rendered human and animal figures and representations of modes of transportation, from the published and renowned collection of Sam Hilu, a prominent author and adviser on traditional Asian art, 27 x 8.75 inches, 68.5 x 22 cm.

Antique Nepali Sarangi Musical String Instrument with sublimely rendered animal and human figures, from the published and renowned collection of Sam Hilu, a prominent author and adviser on traditional Asian art, 29.75 x 7.75 inches, 75.5 x 20 cm.

Antique Nepali Sarangi Musical String Instrument with sublimely rendered tiger and human figures, from the published and renowned collection of Sam Hilu, a prominent author and adviser on traditional Asian art, 27 x 7.5 inches, 68.5 x 19 cm.

Antique Indian bronze figure of Ganesha. Seated on a lotus throne, he holds his prayer beads and ax in two of his four hands. He holds up one hand in abhaya mudra while he feeds himself sweets with the other. His mouse vahana (vehicle) looks up at him from the right side of his throne. According to legend, Ganesha was created from mud by the goddess Parvati in order to guard her while she bathed...

Nicely cast ritual spoon, with a highly detailed statue on its top representing Hindu god Krishna standing on a stylised lotus and playing his flute, with a cow behind him. The spoon itself is decorated with two birds on its sides and a geometric design at its back. Copper with nice green patina. India, early 19th century. Height: 14.8 cm. The spoon is mounted on a custom stand to enhance its beauty. A rather rare piece of this size and condition.

Antique Nepalese bronze melong, "Mirror of Emptiness". Melong are placed on altars to reflect right thoughts. This melong has a polished center surrounded by flames. It stands on a lotus base. It is the same on either side. A soft rattling sound from within the convex portion of the mirror reveals that it has been consecrated, meaning a prayer has been placed inside.

Age: 18th/19th century

Dimensions: 7 1/2" high x 4 1/4" wide x 2 1/2" deep

Unusually sculptural 18th century Indian bronze shrine in a form of a courtyard set around a Shiva lingam: Shiva and his wife Parvati, each one seated with one leg pendant, their backs against an ornate probhavali with sun and moon symbols, their elephant-headed son Ganesha, Nandi the bull of Shiva, and Naga (hooded cobra) rising protectively over the lingam...

18th century votive Indian bronze sculpture depicting the mother goddess Durga slaying the buffalo demon, and a small figure of her mount on her left- a roaring lion - biting the side of the demon 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 Buffalo Demon Mahishasura with the other...

18th century Indian bronze Shiva shrine from Western India in a form of a courtyard, the family of Shiva seated around a lingam, including his wife Parvati in her Annapurna manifestation and her son Ganesha, as well as Nandi bull and a seated figure of a shrine donor with offering in his hand. The back halo has the protective naga (cobra) with its hood wide open, and there is a pile of offerings in the front left corner of the shrine. Nice piece with good casting and detailing, beautiful patina ...

18th century Indian bronze Shiva shrine from Western India in a form of a courtyard, the family of Shiva seated around a lingam, including his wife Parvati in her Annapurna manifestation and her son Ganesha, as well as Nandi bull and a seated figure of a shrine donor with offerings in his hands. The back halo has the protective naga (cobra) with its hood wide open, and there is a pile of offerings in the front right corner of the shrine. Nice piece with good casting and detailing, beautiful pati...

Antique Indian carving of Vishnu and Lakshmi. Vishnu is identified by his tall crown and club. His wife, Lakshmi is seated on his left knee. Carved of a hard black/green stone. Beautifully worn smooth and with traces of vermillion from it's use as a votive sculpture. This piece is very powerful. Age: Possible 4th century Dimensions: 4 1/4" high x 2 1/4" wide x 1 1/4" deep

Antique Sri Lankan ceramic figure of seated Hanuman, the Hindu god in monkey form, hero of the Ramayana and devoted friend to Rama. Seated with one knee raised and hands together in prayer, Hanuman's face is full of compassion. His tall crown denotes his status. Traces of green and white pigments remain.

Age: 18th/19th century

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

Antique Indian carved figure of Ganesha, the elephant headed Hindu deity known as the Remover of Obstacles. Carved of soapstone and with traces of pigment. Ganesha sits on a bench with one leg up. His gently curling trunk rests on his large round belly. According to legend, Ganesha was created from mud by the goddess Parvati in order to guard her while she bathed. Upon returning home from meditation, Parvati's husband, Shiva was furious to find his path blocked by Parvati's mud guardia...

Antique Indian figure of dancing Ganesha. Carved of stone, possibly serpentine. Ganesha, the Remover of Obstacles stands on one foot with knees bent as he dances. In one hand he holds a string of prayer beads and in the other, a club. By his right hand is his vehicle (vahana), a mouse. Ganesha is the beloved child of Shiva and Parvati.

Age: 19th century

Dimensions: 8" high x 4 1/2" wide x 1 1/2" deep

Antique Indian « ayigalu », lingam casket, “chauka” style (Nandi’s horns shape), used by the Lingayat in Karnatakka, India. 9 x 6,5 cms. CE 236 (see Bibliography)

Small Indian deity cast in bronze with a high copper content depicting the dancing god Krishna as a child holding in one hand a butter ball. Condition: patina, traces of usage, rubbed. Dimension: 8.3 cm high.

A small Indian deity cast in bronze with a high copper content, depicting an athletic male deity sitting on a lotus throne holding his hands in anjali mudra and holding a kind of hack. Condition: signs of worshipping, base slightly bent, one underarm with a crack. Dimension: 6.5 cm high.

18th century Indian bronze chhappa (a tantric ritual stamp), its base leaving an imprint of a peacock feather. The chhappas were used during tantric temple ceremonies to stamp the proscribed parts of the body such as the forehead, cheeks, shoulders, forearms and stomach with a paste of white (for Vaishnavites) or red (for Shaivites) sandalwood. The marks on the body provide a visual display of the adherent’s devotion and transfer the beneficence of the deity to the wearer. Finial-shaped top, p...

18th century Indian bronze chhappa (a tantric ritual stamp), its base leaving an imprint of a peacock feather. The chhappas were used during tantric temple ceremonies to stamp the proscribed parts of the body such as the forehead, cheeks, shoulders, forearms and stomach with a paste of white (for Vaishnavites) or red (for Shaivites) sandalwood. The marks on the body provide a visual display of the adherent’s devotion and transfer the beneficence of the deity to the wearer. Finial-shaped top, p...

Four 18th century Indian bronze chhappa (a tantric ritual stamp), their bases leaving imprints of: a sacred text, a conch shell and 2 of satkona yantra surrounded by sun rays. The chhappas were used during tantric temple ceremonies to stamp the proscribed parts of the body such as the forehead, cheeks, shoulders, forearms and stomach with a paste of white (for Vaishnavites) or red (for Shaivites) sandalwood. The marks on the body provide a visual display of the adherent’s devotion and transfer...

Antique Tibetan Buddhist small reliquary in stupa form. Made of glass and covered with gold leaf, this votive offering would have once been housed in a larger container and placed at the foot of an architectural stupa acting as either a funeral mound or housing relics of an important person. The shape, with it's rounded body and terraced lid, imitate the larger stupa, a three dimensional mandala and symbol of Buddha.

Age:17th/18th century

Dimensions: 3 1/2" high

Late 18th to early 19th century small Indian bronze votive sculpture of Vitthali and his consort Rukmini standing on a base next to each other with an ornate probhavali behind their backs. Vitthali is regarded as a form of Vishnu or Krishna, h name means “standing on a brick”, he is usually shown in characteristic stance with his hands on his hips. He is also known as Vithoba or Panduranga, and is worshipped in particular in Pandharpur, not far from Bombay. Nice casting and detailing, pleasa...

Highly ornate silver belt buckle with turquoise and coral Stones, Tibetan, 19th century, mounted on contemporary black leather belt. The silver buckle measures 7 1/4" wide, and is 1 1/2" deep, with two large bezel set coral beads and a turquoise stone between them. The black leather is 1 3/8" wide and 47 3/4" long. The sections with holes will adjust to waist size of 36 1/2" to 40", though more holes could be made to make it fit a smaller waist. The buckle is curved slightly from end to end...

Old tribal necklace made of twenty strands of old glass beads of various colours. North East India, Naga ethnic group. Length: around 29 cm. Very good condition. Provenance: 1) old European collection 2) auction sale.

Old tribal necklace, made of old glass beads of various colours with a bronze ornament in the shape of a double fish tail. North East India, Naga ethnic group. Length: around 34 cm. Very good condition. Provenance: 1) old European collection, 2) auction sale.