Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian (330)

A large and quite scarce high tinned bronze opium weight of the 20 Tical, square base, c. 1750-1780.

Interesting since this weight does not have the usual lines for the issue but instead a fine engraving with dots. Very attractive.

Weight: 320 grams = 20 Tical

Condition: Choice Very fine, very nice grey silverish surfaces.

Provenance: John Abrahamsen Collection, important Danish private collection of c...

Massive and beautiful bronze opium weight of the 50 Tical / 1/2 Viss, with square base, c. 1750-1780.

This Viss weight is very attractive and large with a tall handle and the square base.

Weight: 807 grams = 1!2 Viss!

Condition: Choice Very fine, some wear but fine details and thick brown-green patina.

Provenance: John Abrahamsen Collection, important Danish private collection of c...

Interesting and rare early bronze opium weight, probably an Old Shan Hamsa bird, c. 16th. century.

The bird is standing on an octagonal base.

Weight: 72,67 grams = 5 Tical, which equals the 14,4 grams standard for the birds from c. 1560!

Condition: Good Fine, much circulation and nice brown patina.

Provenance: John Abrahamsen Collection, important Danish private collection of c...

A rare 3 Tical Brahmani duck or Old Mon Duck of the early style, Burma, c. 1480-1520 AD.

The bird finely incised on the wings and stands on a round base.

Weight: c. 39,17 grams = probably 3 Tical, which fits scale at the period of around 13 grams/unit. A very rare weigth!

Condition: Near Very fine, wear but a lovely brown and red patina, attractive!

Reff. L.B. Mikkelsen p...

An exceptional style terracotta head of a bearded man wearing a diadem, probably the head of Vajrapani with features of Heracles, Gandhara, 0-400 AD.

Size: 88 mm. tall., 55 mm. deep and 53 mm. wide.

Condition: Extremely fine and intact, earthern deposits, with the face brushed.

Ex. Danish Private Collection

A remarkably fine style terracotta head of a bearded man, probably the head of Vajrapani with features of Heracles, Gandhara, 0-400 AD.

Size: 95 mm. tall., 65 mm. deep and 58 mm. wide.

Condition: Extremely fine and intact, earthern deposits.

Ex. Danish Private Collection

A fine and scarce very early or transitional style Golden Hamsa Opium Weight, Burma, c. 1730 AD.

A massive weight, very attractive in hand, the bird with two backcovers, mouth appendage and standing on a rounded octagonal base.

Weight: c. 303 grams = 20 Tical.

Condition: Very fine, smooth brown patina, attractive!

Reff. L.B. Mikkelsen p...

Massive and beautiful bronze opium weight of the 100 Tical / 1 Viss, square base, c. 1750-1780.

This Viss weight is very attractive and large with a tall handle and the square base.

Weight: 1515 grams = 1 Viss!

Size: Slightly more than 12 cm. in height and 9 cm. wide.

Condition: Choice Very fine, some wear but fine details and thick green patina.

Provenance: John Abrahamsen Collection, important Danish private collection of c...

A nice pair of very scarce bronze bells with great patina and raised design, Chinese probably Warring States, BC.475-221 or earlier

Both are made for hanging and are decorated with geometrical patterns.

Size: c. 70 mm each.

Condition: Nice patinas, both with losses. One still has the gong.

Ex. Hafnia Coins stock, bought in Denmark in the late 1990s.

A group of 39 handcarved Chinese Mother of Pearl gaming Chips dating to c. 1800-1840.

Gaming chips in Mother of Pearl were crafted in China for export to Britain, where the Georgian and Victorian aristocracy used the chips when playing parlor games.

All 39 pieces have an elliptical shape, with criss cross patterns and floral motifs engraved in hand.

Very beautiful and interesting antique Mother of Pearl gaming chips...

Cambodia, 12th-13th century.

A finely cast figure of a Godess, likeley 'Uma', standing in samabhanga, wearing a sampot with a elaborate hems, holding ritual objects in both hands, richly adorned with jewelry. Her strongly featured face with almond-shaped eyes, and full lips, the head surmounted by a large and elaborate pointed crown.

Quite exceptional for the richness of details and the fine cast. With a very attractive green patina with earthern deposits...

A very nice early wooden carving of Guanyin, a votive figure with offer hole in the back, covered with a hatch, Chinese, Late Ming-Early Qing Dynasty, 17th.-18th. century AD.

Beautiful depiction of Guanyin in red, black and blue colours.

Size: 30 cm. tall and 13,5 cm. wide.

Condition: Choice for age and type!. Chip to the donkeys left ear and much nice patina.

Ex Old Esta

A finely carved and beautiful handle from a brush, Song style, but perhaps later 19th. century, we're not certain.

Carved with animals and scrolls, a small loop at the top.

Size: 69 mm...

Interesting lot of two bronzeage weapons from the Dong Son Culture, Han Chinese designs of weaponery, c. 300-100 BC.

A very nice consisting of a fine spearpoint with raised shoulds, socket and midrib, and a socketed battleaxe.

Sizes: 9,8 cm for the axe and 12,5 cm. for the spear.

The Dong Son Culture evolved semi-autonomous from the Han Empire in China until the powerful Han-dynasti Nanyue expanded south around 110 BC. and incoporated the region into the realm. ...

Typical Boat-shaped bronze axe with oval socket, made by the Dong Son Culture of the Annam region Vietnam, c. 300-100 BC.

Enigmatic for the Dong Son culture and attractive with it's boat form and vivid patina. The Dong Son Culture evolved semi-autonomous from the Han Empire in China until the powerful Han-dynasti Nanyue expanded south around 110 BC. and incoporated the region into the realm.

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

Condition: Very fine. Attractive intact...

A nice and scarce bronze axe, interesting asymethric form, designed for trust with a wide blade, Dong Son Culture, Annam region of present day Vietnam, 4th.-1st. cent. BC.

Enigmatic for the Dong Son culture and very attractive. The Dong Son Culture evolved semi-autonomous from the Han Empire in China until the powerful Han-dynasti Nanyue expanded south around 110 BC. and incoporated the region into the realm.

Size: 10 cm. tall x 7,5 wide.

Condition: Intact and Ve...

A massive and solid bronze axe in the battleaxe form with a wide blade, Dong Son Culture, Annam region of present day Vietnam, 4th.-1st. cent. BC.

The type of axe have been found in most of Southern Han Empire (South), the very wide edge of the blade is peculiar for the Annam region. The Dong Son Culture evolved semi-autonomous from the Han Empire in China until the powerful Han-dynasti Nanyue expanded south around 110 BC. and incoporated the region.

Size: 13,5 tall x 11,5...

Larger Boat-shaped bronze axe with oval socket, Dong Song Culture of the Annam region Vietnam, c. 300-100 BC.

Enigmatic for the Dong Son culture and very attractive with it's boat form and vivid patina. The Dong Song Culture evolved semi-autonomous from the Han Empire in China until the powerful Han-dynasti Nanyue expanded south around 110 BC. and incoporated the region.

Size: 10,5 cm wide and 10 cm tall.

Condition: Very fine. Attractive intact axe with vivid g...

A large, Museum Quality pottery figure of a male attendant carrying a flask or a vase under his arm. The figure dates to Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644 AD.

The figure is placed on throne made of Lotus flowers on the top of hexagonal plint, both in fine Sancai colours - a two-colour green and yellow glazed robe.

He wears a high hat. Finely painted facial details. Lotus thrones are very rare for Ming pottery figures.

The head is attachable as often seen on the largest fig...

A beautiful bronze temple bell with twisted stem and with two Garudas seated under the protective roof of the Cobra as a finial, Nepalese, 18th.-19th. century AD.

With a stunning brown patina and inscribed with short inscription in Sanskrit on the side of the bell.

Size: 20,7 cm. tall and weighing c. 720 grams.

Ex. Henning Holck Larsen collection (1907-2003), a famous Danish Engineer, CEO and founder of Larsen & Toubro, one of Indias largest construction compani...

Architectorial carving of a temple alter, Northern India / Gandhara, early-mid 1st. millenium AD.

A very artful carving and quite decorative as well, depicting a building housing an alter and flanked by large collumns. The back uncarved and it would have been carved into a rock wall.

Finely mounted, floating on a black metal base.

Size: 35 cm. tall, incl. the mounting, 24 cm. for the temple alone. 16 cm. deep and 20 cm. wide.

Weight: Approx 13-14 kil...

Superb Chinese Tomb Pottery figure of a mounted horseman, Dating to the Ming Dynasty 1368-1644 AD.

Finely detailed warrior on horseback holding a Grenade in his right hand. Fully equipped with detailed armor in cobolt blue and turqoise glaze. Other details in white, black and red pigment. A high quality figure, dating to the Middle Ming period, ca. 1500-1550 AD.

The figure is part of a group lab tested with the TL test by the Kotalla Lab, guaranteed authentic for life and...

A large and very impressive tomb pottery horseman, Chinese, 1368-1644. This horse and rider comes with the official ThermoLuminescence test from Kotalla lab, dating it to the later Ming Dynasty.*

A rare tomb pottery officer that we recently purchased as part of a small group.

The pottery horseman a high-ranking soldier equiped with a bow case at one side and a quiver at his other side, he is clad in body armor in blue and torquise. He is riding a large white horse.

Pair of lovely U-tail 10 tical Hamsa birds, late Shan, Burma, c. 1800-1860.

As good as they come for their types and scarce variants with their beaks slightly open as if laughing!

Weigts: 161,4 grams and 160 grams)

Condition: Good Very fine and Extremely fine for types with silver and brown patinas.

Gear Group 1/2. Mikkelsen p.146 fig. 88 - scarce variant.

Provenance: John Abrahamsen Collection, important Danish private collection of c. 250 ...

5 matching opium weights in different sizes, from the Late Shan Empire, late 18th.-early 19th. century.

A choice set of the Hamsas with U-tail, no neckridges and only one spike, standing on a hexagonal base. Clear 6-ray verification mark.

Weights represented her: 20 tical (316 grams) 10 tical (162,68 grams), 5 tical (80,07 grams), 2 tical (32,12 grams) and 1 tical (15,97 grams).

Ref.. Gear group 1+2; Mikkelsen p. 145, fig. 87.

Condition: V...

A pair of interesting early bronze opium weights of Arakan, Burma, made just after Shan occupation in the late 18th. cent.

Hamsa birds with one spike in the manor of the Shan weights from 1770s-. As typical for these attractive weights, they are made in a rather crude provincial style to cover the need for weights used as currency. Also note the round or semicircular bases.

Weight: c. 313-320 grams each.

Condition: VF, nice condition for types with a warm brow...

An extremely fine specimen of the Hamsa bird 10 tical bronze opium weights, Late Shan Empire, c. 1800s.

A superb type of Hamsa with smooth neck and one spike on a hexagonal base.

Weight: 164,4 grams = 10 tical.

Condition: Extremely Fine and with a lovely all silver patina!

Rarity: Common - but an exceptional specimen.

Refference: Gear Group 1/2. Mikkelsen p.145-146 - scarce variant of figure 90 with the smooth neck.

Provenance: J...

A fine group 4 different 10 Tical opium weights from the Late Shan Empire, c. 1820-1860 AD.

Interesting study groupe representing 4 different late Burmese Shan styles of Hamsa birds. all with fine patinas and weighing 162,12 / 163,5 / 159,8 / 159,7 grams.

Condition: VF-EF for type, all 4 with nice patinas.

Provenance: John Abrahamsen Collection, important Danish private collection of c. 250 Opium weights, hand-picked from 1991-2006, by the collector from German, ...

A large group of 14 different opium weights from the Late Shan Empire, c. 1820-1860 AD.

Interesting study groupe representing most of the late Burmese Shan styles of birds. The largest bird with a nice verification mark, black patina and weighing 163,5 grams.

Condition: VF-EF for type, many with nice patinas.

Provenance: John Abrahamsen Collection, important Danish private collection of c. 250 Opium weights, hand-picked from 1991-2006, by the collector from Germa...

A interesting and scarce specimen of the early Toe (Chinte) Opium weight of the 2 tical, Burma, c. 1600-1650 AD

Well-patinated bronze weight of the old classical style featuring the unusual octagonal stepped base, depicting a ‘Toe’ or lionbeast – a mythical animal.

Weight: 30,7 grams = 2 Tical

Rarity: Scarce; smaller nominal of a type in high demand from collectors.

Refference: Gear Group 4/2. Mikkelsen p.130, figure 67. According to Mikkelsen th...

An early classic style 2 tical bronze Toe beast Opium weight, Burma, c. 1600-1630.

Nice weight for it’s type in the old classical style featuring the tall octagonal base, depicting a ‘Toe’ or lionbeast – a mythical animal.

Weight: 31,56 grams = 2 Tical

Rarity: Scarce.

Refference: Gear Group 4/2. Mikkelsen p.129, figure 67.

Condition: Nice fine. Smooth wear and a lovely chocolate brown patina.

Provenance: John Abrahamsen C...

A lovely early variant of the bronze opium weight of the 20 Tical, Elongated octagonal base, c. 1720-1750.

This 20 tical weight is a transitional or Hybrid piece sporting a beautiful elongated octagonal base, very detailed and with an aucillery mark with 4 rays, which belongs to the types of the late 17th.-early 18th. century.

The lion is shaped much like the later types (with other bases and typically the 9-rayed star verification mark).

We think that the dating...

Bronze 5 tical opium Toe weight with lovely patina, ca. 1750-1776 AD.

Nice version of the Toe type with the elavated tail and with three spikes, with a octagonal base engraved with concenthric lines and fine details to the cast.

Possible released by King Hsinbyushin in connection with his war campaigns into Manipur, Lanna and Siam in 1763-1767. Reff: Leif B. Mikkelsen 'Opium Weights', p.133, fig. 71.

Weight: 81,23 grams = 5 Tical (Weight unit: 15,8-16,4 grams)

An attractive late medieval bronze opium weight in the old classical style featuring the elongated octagonal base. Depicting a ‘Toe’ or lionbeast, Burma c. 1550 AD

Note the beside standard circular verification mark at the front of the base, there's also a later 6 rayed star or auxillery mark and added mass between the legs, so this weight was upgraded during time of use. Seldomly seen two different marks on the 10 Tical Toes.

Weight: 151,88 grams = 10 Tical, a substant...

Bronze 10 tical opium Toe weight with lovely patina, ca. 1750-1776 AD.

Lovely early version of the Toe type with the elavated tail and with four instead of the usual three spikes, with a octagonal base engraved with concenthric lines and fine details to the cast.

Possible released by King Hsinbyushin in connection with his war campaigns into Manipur, Lanna and Siam in 1763-1767. Reff: Leif B. Mikkelsen 'Opium Weights', p.133, fig. 71.

Weight: c. 158,29 grams = 10...

An intriguing and extremely rare Late Shan bronze opium weight of a U tail Hamsa bird c. 1800, but without any kind of ridges or spikes to ether neck or head!

The weight can be classified along with the later Shan bronze weights with hexagonal bases (See Gear group 1+2), but not published in this beautiful bird form. Nice official style, so this is perhaps a Prototype.

Weight: 31,58 grams = 2 tical.

Condition: Extremely fine, choice silverish surfaces.

...