Catalog (224)

A nice and interesting polished Nephrite amulet in the shape of a Cicada, Ming style.

The pendant carved in a rarely seen brown-black stone. This fine nephrite pendant comes from an old German Collection of handpicked Chinese jade carvings of insects from different periods, from the Neolithic to 20th. century. The cicada was carved in a Ming Dynasty Style, but possible from Qing Dynasty, we're not certain.

Size: 6,2 cm.

Condition: Choice and intact, fine wear....

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...

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 ...

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...

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. ...

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. 350 Opium weights, hand-picked from 1991-2006, by the collector from Germ...

Attractive pendant of a duck in beautiful Nephrite Jade, Chinese, 19th/20th. cent.

Size: 55 mm. long.

Condition: Choice, microscopic chip.

Ex. Old Danish Private Collection.

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...

South Asia, India, ca. 18th-19th century.

A solid cast bronze alloy figure depicting Krishna the "Butter Thief" as a youth holding a ball of butter that he stole from his stepmother. Baby Krishna or Bala Krishna is crawling with a ball of butter in his right hand. As mischievous children/babies, Krishna and his older brother Balarama stole jars of butter and yogurt from their families and neighbors.

Size: 63 mm. tall. - weighing c. 100 grams.

Condition: Intact, ...

A lovely set of two different smaller weights, incl. an early 18th. century Toe or Chinte 2 Tical from Burma (31,7 grams) and a scarce very old Laotian of Lanna snake weight (8,22 grams), also from the 18th. century.

Condition: Beautiful ancient patina on these two!

Ex. Danish Private Collection

Massive specimen of the old Karaweik bird type 20 tical bronze opium weight, Burma (from Ava, Rangoon, Amarapura), 18th. century.

Impressive Karaweik weight on a large octagonal base, with three neck-ridges, one back cover which is bended strongly backwards up.

Weight: c. 316 grams = 20 tical.

Condition: Nice Very fine for type with a lovely rich brown patina! Very smooth and attractive.

Rarity: Common.

Refference: Gear Group 2/3. Mikkelsen...

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. 250 Opium weights, hand-picked from 1991-2006,...

A well-preserved lot of 3 bronze Hamsa bird opium weights of 5 tical, Late Shan Empire, early 1800s.

The birds are all different variants of Hamsas or Hinthas with V and U-tails, and one or more spikes, standing on a hexagonal bases.

Weights: 81,7 gr., 76,29 gr., 81,5 gr.


Condition: Nice VF with brown patinas!

Refference: Gear Group 1/2.

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

Possibly issued by Anaukpetlin, in connection with his war campagns against the Shan states in 1605-1614.

Weight: 29 grams= 2 tical.

Condition: Nice for type. even wear and a fine green patina with some earthern encrustations.

Reff. Mikkelsen p. 130 fig. 67.

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

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 pair of nice stamp personal stoneseals, carved with with Dog and Dragon on the top of the tall square bases, 20th. century AD.

Sizes: 72-75 mm. in height.

Condition: Choice.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, bought at reputable dealers and from old collections. Gustav Oberländer specialized in early stamp seals from the pre-historic and Dynastic civilizations in the Near E...

Pair of early classic style 1 and 2 tical bronze Toe beast Opium weights, Burma, c. 1600-1630.

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

Weight: 29,62 grams = 2 Tical and 15,58 grams = 1 Tical.

Rarity: Scarce.

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

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

A fine jade pendant carved with lions in the archaistic style, Ming or later periods.

Finely worked piece with high relief details in the type of brownish celadon jade, popular during Ming period, but possible made as a later revival piece, we're not certain.

Size: 57 mm. long.

Condition: Extremely fine, patinated.

Provenance: Estate of the Danish Artist Rolf Gjedsted.