Measuring 29 x 37 cm this child's waistcoat is from Indus Kohistan. Condition is excellent, and it dates to the mid 20th century. The embroidery technique is straight stitch in silk thread on a black cotton background, embellished with white glass beads and buttons. Kohistan has a rich local history as a crossroads between Central, South and Southwestern Asia...
Vivid Mughal Miniature Painting on Manuscript Leaf depicting hunting scene. Good condition. Size: H. 7.5" x W. 5.5"
In Tibetan Buddhism, the Kartika, or Drigug, is a ritual flaying knife used in burial rituals, with the handle crafted as a dorje. A tool of the wrathful female deities known as Dakinis, the kartika symbolizes the cutting of all things material, symbolized by the human body. The blade is left dull (never sharpened) because it was used in a ritual representing the flaying of flesh and not for the actual purpose.
Typical of the mountainous Swat valley in northern Pakistan, this cushion cover is distinguished by the black cotton background embroidered in a zinging, shocking pink. This amazing piece measures 12¼ inches x 32 inches (31.1. cm x 81.3 cm). Swati embroidery patterns are traditionally handed down from mother to daughter and these are the typical color contrasts. In Swat, the embroidery is called bagh or flower garden...
Dated to the mid 20th century, this cushion cover (thakia) measures 15¼ inches x 30 inches (38.7 cm x 76.2 cm). As the Hazara district is situated between Punjab and Swat, the embroidery of this area is stylistically very similar to that of the Swat Valley. However, these pieces are generally more complex in design and construction. This piece is embroidered on both sides with silk on a cotton background in a predominantly geometric pattern...
This Tibetan wool sash measures 12.7 cm x 340.4 cm in length including the silky fringes. The tigma (cross) motif is an ancient good luck charm among Tibetans and here it is depicted in a discontinuous weft pattern design. These sashes are traditionally worn to secure the traditional Tibetan attire called a chuba. The high lustre of the wool is attributed to the high lanolin content of the goat wool in the high altitude regions of the Tibetan plateau...
Depicting curling horned and star patterns, this wedding textile from the Hazara district of Pakistan, in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as NWFP) is densely embroidered in silk floss thread on a black cotton ground. It measures 70 x 77.5 cm and is in excellent condition. The motifs are curvilinear and embroidered in dark red in a combination of satin stitch and long and short stitch, outlined with a top stitch of golden silk floss. Estimated age: late 20th century.
Early 20th century North India, Indian Muslim women necklace with solid silver enameled (Meenakari), Islamic amulet (Ta'wiz-Muska). Case of cylindrical form elaborately decorated on each site with peacock and floral sprays.
The amulet’s elongated shape indicates that a piece of paper rolled as a scroll may have been kept inside the body of the amulet. The text likely would have included Qur’anic verses written in tiny ghubari, or dust script...
Traditional pipe from Tibet made of white yak horn (rarer than black) and silver.
Beautiful typical Sino-Tibetan craftsmanship including long life symbol.
It was usually slipped inside the boot. Good condition with expected wear and tear; light knocks on the stem (see pix 4-5). Tibet, 21 cms
Typical of the mountainous Swat valley in northern Pakistan, this cushion cover ("thakia" in Urdu) is distinguished by a purple cotton background embroidered in a bright pink, with yellow and sage highlights. This amazing piece measures 14 1/8 inches x 30 inches (36.1 cm x 76.2 cm). Swati embroidery patterns are traditionally handed down from mother to daughter and these are the typical color contrasts. In Swat, the embroidery is called bagh, meaning flower garden...
Embroidered in vivid turquoise silk floss with a top stitch of golden silk floss, this woman's shawl ("phulkari") from Swat Valley measures 97 cm x 198 cm and is in excellent condition. The designs are stylized rosettes with densely embroidered borders and a medallion motif in the center. Black is the dominant color for the background of Swati embroideries, which share many motifs in common with the embroidery from Hazara district...
A BRONZE VIRABHADRA PLAQUE WESTERN DECCAN INDIA CIRCA probably 19th c CENTURY of rectangular form depicting the four-armed deity in relief standing within a lobed arch under a cobra flanked by diminutive figures of Daksha and Sati and a hanging loop on the back. Size H 7" w almost 4.25"
Indian Hindu 18-19thc Bronze Nandi Incense or Joss stick holder . Rare piece well sculpted with a nice verdigris . H 4.25" d 3"
An interesting antique Indian tribal statue with a pair of two deities standing side by side, as if holding hands together set with an arch halo like form.The tribe is Gond, Bopal area of central India. Age: 20th century. Purchased from Katmandu in the 1960's. Size: length 4" width 1.25" height 5"
A woven wool sash from Tibet, circa mid to late 20th century. Measuring 15.3 x 300 cm including the fringes, it is in overall good condition, but with some fraying. These sashes are used by Tibetans to tie their traditional attire (chuba for women, lokpa for men) and also to secure knives, bundles etc. Enlargement #6 shows the use of these sashes in traditional Tibetan nomadic culture (© 1995 East of Lo Manthang by Peter Matthiessen and Thomas Laird).
Measuring 8 x 116 inches (20.3 x 294.6 cm) including the braided fringes, this woven wool sash from Tibet is in excellent condition. The sash is a dark bergundy with indigo stripes and orange thread sewn along the edges to prevent fraying. Estimated age: mid to late 20th century...
Shamanic drum handle, carved in the shape of a "phurpa" (shamanic ritual dagger), surmounted with three deities heads. Wood, fine dark brown patina. Nepal, early 20th century. Height: 33.5 cm. Nicely mounted on a custom stand. Very good condition.
Large metal dancing Shiva. Complete. 60x45cm.
3 dimensional figure in the ring of fire on double base. Undated, estimated to be early to mid 20 th century. Can be viewed in central London. Shipping to be determined by buyer location or collected in London.