Antique 19th century excellent quality Indian two miniatures portraits of the Mughal Empress Mumtaz Mahal (Arjumand Banu Begum), a wife of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Each of the miniature is finely hand-painted in gouache on an oval, natural wafer...
Two Tibetan stem platters for ritual offerings, made from hardwood with metal sheet. The center decorated with a wheel, one of the eight Buddhist Symbols. Torma are cone shaped ritual food offerings sculpted in a variety of shapes and sizes, mostly made of flour and butter. Condition: traces of usage, one piece with an old repair (was broken in two). Dimension: diameter: c. 19 cm, height: 6 cm and 7.3 cm, weight: 1200 g.
Two(2) Tibetan Himalayan large Coral Beads, 24mm x 13mm(15/16" x 1/2"), purchased in Tibet prior to 1980.
Superbly cast bird perch, of curved shape, with four dragon heads in the round. Bronze, with fine greenish patina. Himalayan Region, 18th century. Dimensions: length: 3 5/8" (9 cm), height: 3 1/8" (8 cm). Excellent condition. A rare and fine piece. Collected in Nepal in 1974 by its former owner.
Brush case, nicely embossed with an openwork decoration representing three stylised Buddhist vajras on either side, surrounded with a foliage and geometric design. Silver alloy, with a fine age patina. The center of each vajra must have contained a coral or turquoise to enhance the beauty of the case. The case was made in Tibet in the 19th century, maybe earlier. Length: 33.5 cm. Very good condition .
Indian large storytelling paining 240 x 92 cm. Pigment on cotton. Legend of Pabuji. Undated, estimated to be early 20th century.
Rare 19th century Sino-Tibetan thangka depicting eight armed Goddess Maha Pratisara seated on a lotus throne and holding various weapons, with Boddhisattva Manjushri depicted above her. Pratisara is one of the Five Pancha Rakshas - a group of five female deities that are the personifications of five early Buddhist sutras...
Asian low table. Mother of pearl inlay on maroon and black laquer, brass bound edges. Very minor restauration to chipped legs. 475 mm square top, 80mm high. Undated, estimated to be late 19th century or earlier. Can be viewed in central London and collected. Buyer arranges own transport from central London.
Burl wood and silver bowl, used for Tsampa, the traditional Tibetan porridge, and for buttered tea. The silver lining plain, the exterior with chased and delicately engraved decoration of flowers. Tibetan silver normally lacks hallmarks and this bowl tested for a silver content of 925 /1000. Probably antique, late 19th or early 20th century. Diameter "4 ½ / 11 cm, height "2 ¼ / 5.7 cm. Condition: fine.
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.
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
Very rare architectural element beautifully carved in the shape of a celestial being, maybe Garuda, flying and holding a vessel in his hands. Wood, with dark-brown patina. Nepal, 18th century, maybe earlier. Height: 14,5 cm. The piece is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Old insect infestation (treated, no danger), some losses, otherwise very good condition.
Antique Tibetan tall bronze butter lamp for a Buddhist altar. Traditionally, the butter lamp would burn ghee. The light of the flame of the butter lamp represents the "wisdom of the awakened mind" and helps to "dispel the darkness of delusion". Most Tibetan household and temple altar displays include a butter lamp. This tall lamp resembles a multi tiered lotus blossom with decorative granulation on the edges...
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
An extraordinary photo frame made of steel and decorated with scrolling leaf in silver koftgari work, the surface covered with gilt lacquer. The back embellished with geometric pattern. Condition: decoration with little wear and partial loss of lacquer, two clamps missing. Dimension: 24.5 cm, 15.5 cm wide, weight: 466 g.
A painting in gouache on paper depicting Krishna as a seven year old boy in dancing costume. In this form he is known as Shri Nathji. This distinct tradition emanates from Nathadwara in Rajasthan and these paintings were probably intended for domestic shrines. 19th century.
Gouache and metallic pigments on paper. The grey scarf is silver pigment, now tarnished. A very subtle effect is the decoration in grey on the black ground, seen clearly only under a strong light...
Antique Indian miniature painting of Shrinathji, the 7-year-old manifestation of Krishna. He stands on a small platform with an umbrella over his head. A married couple offers food and drink. The architecture of the house is wealthy with intricately painted details. In the distance, clouds form. Undoubtedly this is a scene from one of Krishna's many stories...
An exceptionally large and attractive Linga / Lingam, depicting the head of Shiva, Gupta period, Madhya Pradesh, 4th.-5th. century AD.
The face of the Hindu god Shiva emerges from this linga, the emblem through which he is most commonly worshiped. Most lingas are non-figural, their abstracted phallic shape alluding to Shiva’s transcendent power and generative energy. Here, Shiva is also represented in anthropomorphic form, manifesting himself to devotees...