This Tibetan gau (aka prayer box) is actually a small shrine. When not being worn as an ornament during festivals, it would be kept in the prayer niche of the family home. The back of the box slides open. Frequently, a special prayer i.e. sutra pages would be placed inside. The small glass window at the front displays a Tsa tsa, which is a clay statue of a Buddhist Deity. These statues were made only by the monks and considered to be a holy relic...

Small reliquary box, of cylindrical shape, with its cupola shaped lid ending in a decorated point at its top. The body of the box is decorated with three heads of Buddha in relief and three stars themselves in relief, surmounting a geometric design also in relief. Silver alloy, with a fine age patina. Remnants of soil encrustations. Pakistan, Graeco-Buddhist art, Gandhara Period, Ca. 1st to 3rd century. Height: 7.8 cm. Good condition.

Embossed gilt copper plate, with fine details, representing a snarling snow lion, standing. Two small copper rivets above the back of the lion. Tibet, early 19th century, maybe earlier. Height: 7 cm. Length: 8.3 cm. The plate is nicely mounted on a custom wood stand. Very good condition. Collected in Nepal in 1978.

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.

Small Shiva lingam carved on black stone, with four deities heads in relief around the lingam. The object is eroded with age, and encrusted with remnants of ritual substances, but the decoration is still visible. Nepal, 15th century or earlier. Height: 6.5 cm. Length: 8 cm. Good condition.

Antique Tibetan small bronze votive cup for use on a Buddhist altar to make offerings to various deities. There are 8 auspicious items traditionally offered: water to drink, water to wash, flowers, incense, light (an oil lamp or candle), perfume, celestial food, and music (usually a conch shell). This bronze cup stands on a small round foot and has a deep, rich patina...

Antique Indian painting of a holy man seated centrally in a large court room, holding a lotus bud and adorned in jewels, with a bright halo around his head. Brightly robed courtesans stand at his side. A scale sits on the floor before him. Arabic writing decorates the top and the bottom of the painting. Set in a gilt frame. Size: (entire frame) 10.75" height, 7.25" width (artwork only) 6.5" height, 3" width

The patachitra, the folk painting of Orissa, has a history of great antiquity. The 'Patachitra' paintings exhibit the use of strong line and brilliant colors. These are religious paintings which cover themes and events from Indian mythology and Puranas and are mainly made on silk or on old cotton glued with paper.

This is one of the most popular subjects and was probably produced as a souvenir (jatri pati) for pilgrims for whom the painting would become a personal family shrine...

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...

18th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of Radha beautifully flexing her body, her arms wide spread, a betel nut in her right hand, 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...

Temple or palace architectural element, of corner shape, representing Garuda, the Hindu celestial being, in relief, wearing wings and holding the Snake. Strongly eroded wood. Nepal, 15th to 16th century. Height: 12 1/4" (31 cm). The piece is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. good condition. NOTE: this piece is rather heavy, so we recommend to consult us for shipping cost.

Small reliquary box, of cylindrical shape, with its cupola shaped lid ending in a decorated point at its top. The body of the box is decorated with three floral decorations in relief, surmounting a geometric design also in relief. Silver alloy, with a fine age patina. Remnants of soil encrustations. Pakistan, Graeco-Buddhist art, Gandhara Period, Ca. 1st to 3rd century. Height: 7.8 cm. Old accidents, good condition...

Indian painting. Watercolour on card of a soldier from '3rd 'Skinner's Horse'. In carved brass inlaid frame. Undated, estimated to be c. 1900. Strong color. Signed with initial W in right hand corner.

Museum quality and very rare group of three statues representing Indra and his consorts. Indra is sitting in "vajrasana" on a lotus throne, his left hand resting on his knee , his right hand in "vitarka mudra". Indra has his forehead showing the third eye horizontally, and is wearing an elaborate crown, jewels and a "dhoti". A lotus is attached to each shoulder...

This Buddhist sutra book was from Ceylon, now called Sri Lanka. The front and rear wooden covers painted red with random gold paint spatters. The sutra book contains 16 handwritten pages made from palm leaves, which are held between the covers with cord. Measurements 25" x 2"

The bone of this hair pin has carved series of circles and a very delicate cross hatch pattern. The top is decorated with strands animal hair. The hair pin is 7.5 inches long. This hair ornament is Naga, which is an indigenous tribal culture in the hills of the north east region of India.

Newari Mask, 12 inches, 30.5 cm.

The grip wrought entirely of silver and engraved in geometrical motifs, with silver jingles on the pommel, the integral bolster heavily inlaid with gold. Single-edged blade forged of actively- patterned wootz Damascus steel. Late 18th century.Gold worn.Overall length 35.3 cm. Condition II

Finely carved with serene expression. With downcast eyes, elongated earlobes and wearing a fine moustache. His jewelled hair dress with flowing curls forming a topknot. This splendid piece is 18 In (46 cm) height. Estimate value: $30 000/ $40 000 Provenance: Property of an English gentlemen, acquired late 50's in India

A walking cane or parasol handle made of silver with fine repousse and chased decoration of three ascetics and Lord Krishna playing the flute amidst cottages and trees. With a dated and inscribed cartouche in shield form, top with monogram, unmarked. Condition: one dent, short split, top slightly dented. Dimension: length: 24.3 cm.

An extraordinary photo frame made of steel and decorated with flower heads and foliage in silver koftgari work, the surface covered with gilt lacquer. Condition: without glass, decoration with minimal wear and loss of lacquer. Dimension: 25.5 cm, 15.5 cm wide, weight: 364g.

Mask which was used for the protection of a household against evil spirits. Wood, fine dark brown glossy patina. Nepal, early 19th century. 11 3/16" (28,4 cm). Old accidents (visible on photos), otherwise good condition.

This antique Dhokra depicts a large fish being ridden by 2 women and is probably representing some tribal legend or myth. Dhokras were made by the Kondh tribe of the state of Orissa India. The Dhokra, or small sculptures, were made as toys, ritual objects as well as gifts and talismans. They were much a part of tribal craftsmanship and culture during the 1700's and 1800's. Dhokras were made from a clay base with a net-like pattern and then cast in bronze using the lost wax technique...

Finely cast small statue of Green Tara, wearing diadem jewelry and dhoti, sitting in regal repose on a double lotus throne, her left hand holding a lotus flower. Tibet, 19the century. Height: 4 cm. Slight erosion on the gliding, otherwise very good condition.

Antique Indian damascened hand shield. Silver on copper, engraved decoration with black enamel ground. Mounted on a custom antiqued bronze stand presentation.

Late 19th / early 20th Century

Dimensions: 11" x 11" x 2" (15 1/2" on stand)

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...

Highly unusual statue of protecting deity or ancestor, its head surmounted by a circular crown which looks like a "stupa" or a "usnisa". The protector is squatting, its hands are in praying posture. Eroded wood. West Nepal. Height: 36" (41 cm). Obvious signs of great age.

A wooden carved Tibetan mask. The art of Tibetan masks can be classified into religious type and folk type. Exorcising masks were initially held to drive away ghosts and evil spirits. Later were used in local operas. Size: 27cm X 17cm.

Late Qing Dynasty (1890s to 1911) Chinese / Tibetan mala - Buddhist rosary consisting of 108 wooden beads and 4 jadeite ones that serve as spacers dividing the prayer beads into groups of 27 each. Dark dense wood, beautiful green jadeite. Traditionally Buddhist rosary of 108 even-sized beads is used for mantra recitation. The thread represents the continuity of the buddhadharma piercing the 108 worldly passions. The mantras are recited to accomplish the four karmas or enlightened activities of p...

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.

A large, genuinely old, silver mounted Prayer Wheel / Mill (‘Khor'), Tibet, 19th. century.

Finely patinated copper with large silver mounts and a lotus finial. Hardwood handle with finely decorated brass fittings. Guaranteed authentic old.

Lenght: 42 cm. and quite solidly built - heavy.

Ex. Private collection of Ulf Gudmundsen from the 1950s and onwards. An important collection of Tribal African and Asian antiques.

Antique Tibetan tsakli card depicting a wrathful deity (Heruka) wielding a knife on the back of a fu-lion. Painted in mineral colors on paper with Sanskrit description on the back.

Tsakli cards are powerful miniature paintings of Buddhist deities and objects. They have many different ritual uses. They can be used for teaching when a lama holds the card out for a student to focus on, thus helping them with the visualization and meditation on that deity and what it represents. The ca...

Interesting early brass figure of the reclining Bull Nandi, Southern India, 18th.- early 19th. century.

A finely made figure, much older than most we've seen on the market.

Size: 9 cm. wide and 7,5 cm. tall.

Condition: Choice Very fine, smooth wear from use and polishing, brownish patina inside.

Ex. Private collection of Ulf Gudmundsen from the 1950s and onwards. An important collection of Tribal African and Asian antiques.

A rare Jain Indian sandstone Stele with carved image of the 11 Jain disciples from the Gujarat or Rajasthan regions. Seated figures of Jain teachers are always sculpted with hands folded in meditation. Thie central Mahavira Swami has an auspicious diamond-shaped mark on his chest. The Swami is seated on a lotus with a halo above his head. Underneath the Swami are two mythological lions. Provenance: Purchased from Spink Brothers, London by Handley Estate.

Date: 11th-12th C

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Exceptionally fine and well cast 16/17th Century bronze dancing figure of KRISHNA from Southern India with many details, a wonderful natural patina and clear evidence of prolonged Puja (worship of object). No restorations or repairs. Excellent condition. Size: H. 4.5" (11.6 cm). Very sought after and rare collector's item! Provenance: Private European Collection.

Gilt iron plate, of rounded triangular shape, finely cast in openwork, to represent a dragon in relief in clouds. Four coral inlays enhance the beauty of the plate. This plate is likely to have been part of a saddle decoration. Tibet, 18th century. The plate is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Length: 15.6 cm. Height: around 9 cm. Oxydation at the back due to age, otherwise very good condition.