A fine pair of Kashmir lidded jars or vases. The copper base was first engraved with special tools to create the design in relief, the grooves were later filled with glass and then embellished with additional engraving and wonderful shiny gilding. This technique is called in India "meena" or "meenakari" and was first applied by the Mughal. Condition: fine, only one rim with a small dent and minor wear to gilding. Dimension: c. 18 cm high, diameter: c. 12.5 cm, total weight:
A pierced fragment of an antique Tibetan or Nepalese torana, worked in copper repousse with remains of gilding and colors. Showing a caparisoned elephant with a snow lion on his back, lifting a deity riding on the mythical beast "sharabha". Condition: wear to gilding, slightly warped. Dimension: 36.5 cm high x 15 cm widw x 2.5 cm deep.
A very rare pair of Antique European late 19th century cold painted spelter sculptures on elaborated square bases. The finely and realistically modelled sculptures depict a Chinese man and a Chinese woman in national costumes. The man is wearing a long green robe with gold swirl motifs, grey Balloon Pants and red shoes on his feet, the hair is braided and drawn back under a black hat. His left hand is grasping a Chinese musical stringed instrument (Erhu). The female is wearing a lavish robe, ela...
A rare Chinese enamel on copper medallion bowl decorated with three red-crowned cranes each holding a lingzhi, against a pink background. The interior with flowering peony. 18Th ~ 19th century.
The medallion bowls, three roundels against a coloured background, were produced in porcelain from the Qianlong reign to the Daoguang in the main, this bowl appears to be the enameller’s answer to the challenge.
Approximately 12.5 cm diameter. The bowl has had a slight knock to the e...
Tea bowl with enamelled blue and gilt decoration, Jiaqing c 1800. The blue inside border with small stars in gilt makes it probable that the bowl was intended for the American market.
Height: 2" / 5 cm, diam: 3 1/2" / 9 cm.
Condition: rim frits.
Fudo-Myo (Skt. Acala Vidyaraja) standing upon a rock-form plinth, the left hand holding a rope (symbolizing the catching and binding-up of distracting demons) and the right hand positioned to hold a demon-slaying sword, now lost. Yosegi-zukuri joined-block wood construction, the eyes of inset crystal, finished in mineral-pigment polychrome and gilt, with decorative necklace in gilt-copper and colored glass, and arm, wrist, and ankle bracelets in gilt-copper. Mid-Edo Period ca. 1700. Minor old wo...
Large Chinese Neolithic Machang Phase Painted Pottery Jar (c. 2300 - 2000 BC)
This large pottery jar was made over 4,000 years ago during the Machang Phase (c. 2300 - 2000 BC) of the Majiayao culture, also known as the Gansu-Yangshao culture, from present day Gansu or Qinghai province. The decorative pattern, applied on top of the smooth burnished surface with a fired-on mineral-based pigment, features four roundels containing geometric patterns. On opposing sides just below its waist are tw...
Antique Tibetan Thangka representing Four Hands CHENREZIG, Tibetan Buddha of Compassion, standing in a mountainous landscape and surrounded by deities including Taras.
Pigments on canvas. Very good condition. End of 19th C. 75 x 52 cms.
A very unusual, antique, second half of the 19th century, Russian orthodox Icon, Nevyansk School. Finely hand painted with egg tempera, gold leaf and gesso on a wood panel with splint (shponk) inserted in the back.
The icon depicts, painted in great detail, an orthodox Christian saint flanked on the upper left by Christ Pantocrator blessing the saint with the Gospels labelled illegibly on the top in Church Slavonic, possibly St. John.
The borders are painted with eight various family...
Kebutsu (lit. transformed Buddha) seated upon clouds, ichiboku-zukuri single-block wooden construction with lacquer/gilt/polychrome finish, displayed on a pierced-work gilt-copper keko (Buddhist ritual-use flower basket). The kebutsu early-Edo ca. 1650, the keko clearly dated to the third year of the Genroku Era (1680), mid-Edo Period. Minor old loss and patination.
Kebutsu height: 13 cm
Width: 8.5 cm
Depth: 5 cm
Keko diameter: 28 cm
Rare pair of foxes that guard a Inari shrine. One holding a jewel in the mouth, the other a key. Each squatting on a little pedestal. Earthenware with mineral color pigments red, blue, white and black. Japan, Edo period, 19th century.
H 19-1/2 x W 6-1/2 x D 9 inches.
One tail restored, key broken and partially replaced for the sake of symmetry, few chips. All in all excellent condition.
DESCRIPTION: A classic and quite old pair of hand carved South American wood stirrups. The Guacho of Argentina, the Morochucos of Peru and the Hauso of Chile all preferred large wooden "shoes" for use as stirrups rather than the more prevalent iron stirrup. These stirrups cover the whole front of the foot, which can be an advantage when riding through tall brush. This pair has good age and obvious usage; we estimate them to date from the early 1800's. Each shoe is carved from a single piece...
Antique 18th – early 19th Century Chinese Qing Dynasty Carved Dragon Belt Hook mounted as a magnifying glass handle in a gilt copper mount with engraved flowers and leaf decoration attached to a circular polished magnifying lens. A well carved belt hook with a large dragon head hook with bulging eyes, curled horns and pierced mouth. The body of the belt hook is carved with fine openwork with a writhing chilong holding lingzhi in its mouth. The reverse with a raised button.
In the late 19th ...
A beautiful 19th C. Japanese bronze suiteki water dropper for writing in the shape of sun burst. In excellent condition. W:13cm $485
Antique Miao comb made of wood and silver. Flowers, birds and dragons designs. The ring on top was used to secure the comb in the hair, with a chain by instance.
Magnificent patina with expected wear, one tooth partially broken (see pix). 19th C. or before. H: 10 cms, w: 8 cms.
A Chinese silver fan, gold plated and decorated with multicolour enamelled panels against a filigree ground .The guards are cast with scenes of figures, all sharp and crisp. The back of the fan is not neglected either; it is embellished with the same decoration, thus making it a visual joy from both sides. This exceptional and fantastic fan weighs 173 grams of high grade ( 92% tested ) silver, covered by high gauge gold. age; C. 1900. size: 22.5cm length of the sticks. condition; excellent, you...
Antique American Indian Beaded Dance Harness
Authentic Antique 19th century American Indian (Canadian Plains Cree from Saskatchewan) dance harness composed of black trade silk fabric with twelve rosettes white red and blue glass beads sown to hide discs enclosed by hanging feather attachments. The central panel of the bandoleer is constructed in a geometrical pattern beaded with emerald green and burgundy glass beads on a thick fabric. The entire sewing was done by hand. These items come fr...
A textile panel made of different dyed silk stripes, exquisitely embroidered with motifs from Zoroastrian myths such as fishes or botehs. The backing is a coarse blue dyed cotton, framed by a black ribbon. These embroidery panels originally would have formed the knee to ankle section of one trouser leg, of a shalvar (pantaloon) from a Zoroastrian woman's wedding costume. Condition: one stripe with small fabric losses (see photo 6), few tears, an old mend, little faded. Dimension: c. 49.4 cm x 13...