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...

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.

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...

Red copper and silver bowl, Tibetan and probably used for buttered tea. Silver lining and foot rim, the latter with a border of stylized leaves, embossed and chased, probably early 20th century. Tibetan silver normally lacks hallmarks and this bowl tested for a silver content of 500/1000. Diameter "3 3/4 / 9.7 cm, height "2/ 5 cm. Condition: fine.

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...

Tibetan altar table made of heavy wood, painted with a three faced and six armed Boddhisattva, the sides decorated with skulls and vajras. Condition: some traces of usage, some losses to paint. Please look at pictures carefully, they make part of the condition report. Dimension: 27.8 cm x 28.5 cm x 6.3 cm, weight: 1005 g.

Tibetan Himalayan Coral Large Bead, Drum shape, 20mm x 21mm(7/8" x 7/8"). Purchased in Tibet prior to 1980.

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

A good 19th century Ningxia Region pillar rug with a dragon motif. The woollen rug has a design of a blue winding dragon with open mouth; all around are Buddhist auspicous symbols like the flaming Pearl and clouds. Measurements: L 168 x 62 cm; L 66 x W 24,5 inches. Good condition.

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 hand-made solid silver Tibetan Buddhist Ritual Anointing Medicine Silver” Tsog “spoon adorned with repousse and engraved designs, the handle, jeweled with natural turquoise stone.

Not hallmarked but has been tested and it is at least 900 silver .

CONDITION: in very good condition with no distracting dings, dents, or repairs.

MEASUREMENTS: Overall length: 11.5 cm (6.14 inches).

WEIGHT: 17 grams...

Nepalese Magar Tribe Mask with a Vagina and an Inscription in the forehead, and a Penis Nose. 9.5 inches, 24 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 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.

Antique intricately carved sandalwood card case. Condition: fine, only few tiny rim chips - please look at pictures carefully, they make part of the condition report. Dimension: 10.2 cm x 6.8 cm x 11.3 cm.

A nice pair of brass figures of deities, Krishna dancing on the Cobra and female deity dancing, India or Nepal, c 19th.-20th. cent.

Size: 8,8-10,2 cm.

Provenance: Collection of Gunna Munkvad, Denmark, aquired from the 1950s-1980s.

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...

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.

Antique Nepalese lacquer garuda, the mount of Lord Vishnu in Hindu mythology. He bites the head of a snake or naga, his sworn enemy. He is colored with deep green and red pigment lacquer. Size: 5" height, 4.25" width

A nice hand made octagon silver box with hinge depicting a raised running Lion. Good condition. Size: 7.5 cm. x 5 cm. Weight: 82 gr. silver

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)

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.

Antique Nepalese clay sculpture of a four-armed deity, most likely Vishnu. He is seated upon a lotus throne, with an arch of transcript around his head denoting a religious mantra. Size: 4.75" height, 3.5" width, 1.5" thickness

Two antique Indian charms from Tamil Nadu. The larger one is an Araimudi, in the shape of fig leaf and was by worn by young village girls to protect their “modesty”, the smaller one was probably worn as an amulet with a granulated image of a feminine deity. Free shipping via Hong Registered Airmail. Large is H: 6.3cm/ 2.4in x W: 5.3 cm/2in, the smaller one is H: 4.4cm/ 1.7in x W: 3.2 cm/1.2in. Big one is 31 grams and small one 15 grams

Small cast bronze oil lamp in the form of an elephant drinking water from a trough. Measuring 3.5" high x 4" long, the lamp will fit in the palm of your hand and is attached to a heavy hand wrought chain that ends with a hook in the shape of a cobra. Chain and hook measures 9.5 inches long. There is a reservoir for oil inside the elephant. To use they would turn the elephant upside down to pour in the oil and then latch it shut with the sturdy removable pin...

Charming mythical creature from Nepal..head is separate and rotates in fitted sleeve...intricate metal work with raised enamel drops giving the appearance of stones...crature stands roughly 4 inches high...

Good Bhutan hand spun blanket. I bought this from a Bhutanese woman sitting at the bottom of the trail to original Tiger Nest, in 1995. Simple but stunning wool embroidered floral and foliate medallions. Made with soft wool (very warm), comprised of two panels, perfect condition. Width: 93cm/37.5in and Length: 158cm/62in.

Indian large storytelling paining 240 x 92 cm. Pigment on cotton. Legend of Pabuji. Undated, estimated to be early 20th century.

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

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...

DESCRIPTION: A large Mongolian trunk, the front delightfully hand painted with a large, colorful bird perched upon leafy blooms, around which are fanciful borders of butterflies, pomegranates, lilies and large red blossoms. Sturdily constructed of light weight Poplar wood, the top and sides are lacquered black while the back is red. A perfect place to store linens and blankets, it would also make an attractive bedside table. Very good condition and dating from around 1900 - 1910...

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.

Mask of a grotesque character with twisted nose ; accident on the left side, slit on the chin (see pix) ; 26 x 16 cms.
End of 19th - beginning of 20th C, West Nepal, Gurung.

This short sword and matching scabbard from Bhutan is elaborately decorated...

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.

This is large strike a light ...the strike plate spans 6.5 inches and the purse including handle is 5 inches high...an wide...

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.

Attra...

Antique Gilt Bronze Himalayan Seated Diety of Kubera, lord of riches and wealth, holding mongoose spitting gold. Ornamented with crown headdress and jewelry with flowing robe on lotus throne. Pleasant face with well nourished pot belly. Base intact, sealed with cover with incised vajra design.

Size 5 1/4" High x 5 " Wide x 3 1/4" Depth
circa 1920s