Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Southeast Asian: Metalwork (87)

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...

A rare and attractive Early Karaweik type bird opium weight. The bird with multible spikes, pointy beak and standing on a octagonal plint

Weight: c. 316 grams

Condition: Choice VF, detailed with fine green patina for the type.

Provenance: John Abrahamsen Collection, important Danish private collection of c. 350 Opium weights, hand-picked from 1991-2006, by the collector from German British and Danish dealers. Comes with COA and provenance.

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...

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...

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...

A rare and attractive Early Karaweik type bird opium weight. The bird with multible spikes, pointy beak and standing on a octagonal plint

Weight: c. 310 grams

Condition: Choice VF, detailed with fine brown patina for the type.

Provenance: John Abrahamsen Collection, important Danish private collection of c. 350 Opium weights, hand-picked from 1991-2006, by the collector from German British and Danish dealers. Comes with COA and provenance.

Another lovely and very old bronze weight, Mon duck type, 1636-1700 AD.

Weight: 79,67 grams = 5 Tical.

The bird without beak appendages and sort of 'sleeping', octagonal base with concenthric lines and verification mark of 4-rayed star at the side of base. Added mass.

Condition: Nice Very Fine for type, dark green patina with earthern encrustations!.

Reff. Gear group 4; Mikkelsen p. 114 fig...

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

Note the circular verification mark at the front of the base.

Weight: 75,56 grams = 5 Tical

Rarity: Rare.

Refference: Gear Group 4/2. Mikkelsen p.128, figure 65a...

An attractive and peculiar style bronze buddha, Indonesia, perhaps Sumatra (?), 19th. century or earlier.

He is seated in meditation with tribal headdress and large round bracelets on an semi-circular throne with a backplate.

Size: 11,8 cm. tall.

Conditin: Choice and intact with a fine dark natural patina.

Ex. Swedish Private Collection.

A large silver plate bronze mirror, Cambodia, Khmer Empire, ca. 11th.-12th. century AD.

Large and with a beautiful silver patina, uncleaned with patches of green oxidation on the grey silver surface. It features a perfect circular form and a recessed side with concentric incised circles tracing the borders. Objects like this one were signs of prestige, owned by the wealthy and elite in Khmer society.

Size: Ca. 18 cm. in diameter!

Ex...

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.

...

Interesting and large size of bronze bird weight of 20 Tical with finely decorated base, Late Shan States, 19th. century.

Very high quality execution even for the type with huge head spikes, and depicting the Siwazu bird, standing on a fancy elongated hexagonal base.

Weight: 326 grams = 20 tical.

Condition: Choice Extremely fine, beautiful surfaces and patina

Reff. Bering Mikkelsen, p. 148, figure 95.

Provenance: John Abrahamsen Collection, ...

Fine lot of two early bronze figures, probably 18th. century or earlier.

Size: 57-53 mm.

Condition: Near Very fine intact with fine wear from worship.

Provenance: Ulf Gudmundsen, 1950s-2012.

A set of the tiniest bronze 'opium' currency weights, we've ever handled!. All Burmese Chinte / Toe weights with square bases, 18th. century AD.

Nominals included:

1 gram = 1/16 Tical!

0,78 grams = 1/20 Tical?

1,46 grams = 1/10 Tical

1,54 grams = 1/10 Tical

2,93 grams = 1/5 Tical

Rarity: Rare-Very rare. Such low weights from the 18th. century are practically impossible to find on the market since most of these would ha...

A nice scarce Golden Hamsa bronze opium weight of Burma, early weight with octagonal base, c. 1730-1760.

Weight: 155 grams = 10 Tical.

The bird with with beak appendages, octagonal base.

Condition: Very fine, much smooth wear, nice brown patina.

Reff. Gear group 3; Mikkelsen p. 116 fig. 51-52.

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

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...

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, ...