A pair of conch shell bracelets. Tibet or Ladakh. 19th century.
A copper "gau" prayer box, the lid with chased Kalachakra mantra. Inside a fine "tsakli" painting on canvas in colors and gold, depicting the deity "Green Tara", sitting on a lotus throne. The fitted tsakli is removable and with no inscription on the backside. Condition: painting little rubbed, gau interior with some verdigris. Dimension: gau: 9.5 x 11.3 x 3.2 cm, height tsakli: c. 8.5 cm.
Antique Tibetan tsakli card painted with the figure of Canda-Vajrapani. The fierce deity is one of the earliest bodhisattvas of Mahayana Buddhism. Considered the protector and guide of Gautama Buddha, he symbolizes the manifestation of the Buddha's power. On this card, he is shown with vajra in hand, a tiger skin around his waist, surrounded by his flaming nimbus...
Antique Indian gilt copper repouse plaque depicting many scenes from the life of Buddha. Starting just before his birth (upper left hand side) with the white elephant that descends from heaven with the buddha and enters Maya between her ribs as she sleeps. Moving to the upper left corner, we see the miraculous birth of Maya's fully formed baby out of her side. She is depicted holding onto a tree branch during birth like a yakshi tree spirit...
An assemblage of a figural Baluchari silk sari end panel fragment, showing two nobles on a strange vehicle, dating around 1800. Edged with a yellow Kashmiri or Persian wool shawl fragment, embroidered with boteh pattern. Once framed and possibly sold as souvenir. Mounted on cardboard. Condition: faded, some losses and stains. Dimension total: 25.4 x 20.2 cm.
Collection of four vintage/antique cloth printing blocks from Tamil Nadu, all in excellent condition, acquired in India 30 years ago. Large one: H: 26.3/10.4in x W: 16.4 cm/6.4in, elephant: H 12.2/4.8in x W: 14.7 cm/5.8in, round one D: 20.6 cm/10.2in and, small one H: 17.5/6.9in x W 8.3cm/3.2in.
An assemblage of a figural Baluchari silk sari end panel fragment, showing five European men riding on double-deck railway coach, dating around 1800. Edged with a Kashmiri wool shawl fragment and edged with linen or cotton. Once framed and possibly sold as souvenir. Mounted on cardboard. Condition: faded, a stain. Dimension total: 30.8 x 25.5 cm.
An assemblage of a figural Baluchari silk sari end panel fragment, showing three European men riding on a railway coach, dating around 1800. Edged with a Kashmiri wool shawl fragment. Once framed and possibly sold as souvenir. Mounted on cardboard. Condition: faded and few tiny stains, border with few small losses. Dimension total: 30.6 x 25.3 cm.
Mystical Dzi beads have been implements of ancient Tibetan culture for thousands of years. They are believed to hold magical properties bringing prosperity and protection. They are also thought to hold medicinal properties and so can be characterized by the "dig marks" left over the surface of the bead where a small portion has been scraped away to be ingested. This Dzi bead has a pattern of 8 white circles, or "heavenly eyes", considered one of the most sought after characteristics...
Mystical Dzi beads have been implements of ancient Tibetan culture for thousands of years. They are believed to hold magical properties bringing prosperity and protection. They are also thought to hold medicinal properties and so can be characterized by the "dig marks" left over the surface of the bead where a small portion has been scraped away to be ingested...
Women’s three paneled silk dress circa 1970 to 1990, hand woven from Bhutan. Minor fraying along one side where as well some pinholes and stains. L: 2.3m/90in and W: 1.43m/56in.
Antique Indo-Persian miniature painting depicting a hunting scene. A party of four men with swords on horses gives chase to a herd of deer. In the background, another man with a spear rides an elephant. Intricate details of rocks and flowers. Painted in gauche colors with sky of gold. Framed.
Age: circa 1800-1850
Dimensions: Total size with frame 18 3/4" high x 18 3/4" wide. Art only 9 1/4" high x 4 1/2" wide
Antique Indo-Persian miniature painting depicting a hunting scene. A party of three men on horses gives chase to a herd of deer while two others stand by with spears. In the background a river wends it's way through hills covered in low trees and flowers. Painted in gauche colors. Framed.
Age: circa 1800-1850
Dimensions: Total size with frame 13 1/8" high x 10 3/8" wide. Art only 7 1/2" high x 4 1/2" wide
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.
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...
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.
Antique Indian miniature painting of Adharanishvara, the combination of the God Shiva and his consort Parvati in one body. The half male, half female represents the union of opposites, the universal principles: masculine, Purusha and feminine, Prakriti. In this painting, Parvati is easily identified by her beauty and crown. Shiva is identified by the snake the encircle both their neck, his tiger cloth, and his long hair which is secured on top of his head...
Late 18th to early 19th century silver tribal Indian amulet with low relief depiction of a warrior on his horse and a seated Goddess. Most probably it represents Baba Ramdi - a local folklore hero who singled-handedly saved his village from an army of bandits. The seated image appears to be that of the warrior Goddess Durga. Pendants of that type are known as patris, they were made and worn by the tribal gypsy people of Rajasthan and Gujarat for good luck and protection...
Tibetan Himalayan Coral Large Bead, Drum shape, 20mm x 21mm(7/8" x 7/8"). Purchased in Tibet prior to 1980.
Two(2) Tibetan Himalayan large Coral Beads, 24mm x 13mm(15/16" x 1/2"), purchased in Tibet prior to 1980.
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...
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...
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 incredible Tibetan gilt bronze dynamic figure of Vajrabhairava, the wrathful form Manjushri. In Tibetan: dor je jig je, pa wo chigpa...
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.
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...
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...
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 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.
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...
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.
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.
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 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 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 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...