Fine Nepalese Mask of a Rare Type with Pigments. 10.5 inches, 26.75 cm. From the collection of Irwin Hersey, renowned author on Asian and primitive art, and publisher of the Primitive Art Newsletter in the 1970s. Irwin Hersey was an advisor to museums and prominent collectors, and vetted pieces for many of the international tribal art fairs and Asian art fairs.

Nepalese Terai Region Maiden Mask, 10.25 inches, 26 cm. From the collection of Irwin Hersey, renowned author on Asian and primitive art, and publisher of the Primitive Art Newsletter in the 1970s. Irwin Hersey was an advisor to museums and prominent collectors, and vetted pieces for many of the international tribal art fairs and Asian art fairs.

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...

Himalayan Metal Chop with Brass Conch Shell Buddhist symbol inlaid, early 1900's, 1 3/4" high, 1/2" diameter-bottom, steel inlaid star design on the bottom, two(2) holes on the side mid section for the rope carrying on their belt. Some rust remain on the metal area.

Antique tribal necklace of the Naga people, native to north east India /north west Burma, composed of multicolored beads of coral, glass, quartz, and brass bells.

19th/20th century

Size: 13" length

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...

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

Lovely old pair of matching Tibetan tea bowls. Carved from burl wood with silver/metal decoration around the foot and silver liner inside the bowls. bowls are roughly 2 inches high and 3.75 inches diameter across the rimmed bowl

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.

This antique sutra book is from Tibet... more pages than I want to count, original paper, writings and covers... size 6 inches x 2 x 1.5

Indian Ramayana mask of Hanuman, General of King Sugriva's army of monkeys in the great Ramayana epic, wearing his headdress with 3 tips.
Old and heavy hard wood mask, beautiful patina, remnants of blue pigments.
Very good condition. 27x17 cms. More than 100 years old, most likely 19th C . India, Himachal Pradesh

Antique Nepalese clay sculpture of a robed monk, seated on a lotus throne in meditation. He wears a crown and holds a staff of some kind. Solid and heavy. Size: 5.5" height, 3.5" width, 1.75" thickness

A Sino-Tibetan Amitabha/Shakyamuni 2-Tone Bronze (fire-gilt) Buddha seated on a Lotus Throne with a Pagoda in his hand. Good condition. Late 19th Century. Size: H. 23 cm. x W. 14 cm. x D. 11 cm.

The Tibetan leather flint pouch (aka strike a light) is properly known as a "mechag" (me = fire , chag = iron) or fire iron. This Tibetan flint pouch is decorated with ornate silver and bronze ornamentation with an inset red bead which appears to be a replacement for the original bead. The pouch would have been secured to the wears belt with the attached leather strap...

A Remarkable Indian or East Asian offering Bowl on Stand, late 19th or early 20th century.

The bowl is cast and then finished by fine chisel work and engraving, all against an intricate punched ground. It features a myriad of hunters and animals, the trees seem full of game. On the hilly horizon can be seen various dwellings and pavilions, tiny birds in the sky. The base is an arrangement of three elephant heads supporting an acanthus cup on which sits the offering bowl...

This is a Tibetan Ritual Celestial Crown also know as a Diadem or Ringga. It is worn by a necromancer or oracle during rituals. The "crown" consists of 5 separate paintings on paper and each painting is backed with thin cardboard for stiffness. The sections are connected with string. When worn, the crown is tied around the head with string. The sections are painted with the five Dhayani, celestial Buddhas, each painted with his traditional color and gesture...

Nice small size late 19th / early 20th century Sino-Tibetan bronze vajra - the primary symbol and ritual implement in Tantric Buddhism. It symbolizes the essence of esoteric practices and the perfected state of reality. This vajra has 5 prongs on each end - one at the center, and four at the cardinal directions - symbolizing five cosmic Buddhas. The globe in the middle is considered to be the power center of the implement, on either side of the globe there are stylized lotus petals...

Highly unusual mask, which has kept the original shape of the tree trunk from which it was carved. The mask itself is carved in a kind of "reverse relief", its features hollowed out, except for its nose. One round hole at ear level on each side. Wood, with brown semi-glossy patina. Himalayan Region, early 20th century. Height: 12" (30 cm). The mask is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand which enhances its strange beauty...