Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Southeast Asian: Metalwork (83)

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...

Fine early Tibet prayer Gau silver and copper box with natural torquise and lapis gemstones, 19th. cent.

Finely patinated and uncleaned for very long.

Size: 9 cm. wide and 8,7 cm. tall.

Ex. Private collection of Ulf Gudmundsen from the 1950s to 2007. An important collection of Tribal African and Asian antiques.

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.

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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 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...

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.

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.

...

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 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. 116, figure 51; Gear group 3.

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

An interesting and very finely made massive opium weight, Late Shan, 19th./20th. cent.

Peculia weight or figure in the general shape of a 'Kissing bird' of the Shan Burma, but with some added features in the form of fine engravings and a handle.

The figure comes from a very good old collection and is in our opinion genuine old and antique. It weighs around 700-750 grams and was likely made in the very end of the period with opium weights as a unofficial decorative piece. ...

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 fine highly patinated 'Gao' prayer box with some unreseached content inside, the box probably 18th.-19th. century.

Beautiful ancient box with extensive smooth wear and decoration on the front.
BR> Size: 10 x 11 cm. and c. 5 cm. thick and quite sturdy metal.

Condition: Choice Very fine, stunning brown patina.

Provenance: Ulf Gudmundsen Tribal & Asian art collection, c. 1950s-2007.

A stunning massive bronze golden Hamsa opium weight of a fine early style, c. 1760-1780 AD.

Weight: 311 = 20 Tical and corresponds to a weight-standard of 15,55 grams, which place it in the mid 18th. century.

The golden Hamsa with lovely details and standing on an large octagonal base stamped with the 9-rayed star.

Condition: Choice Very Fine! Lovely brown patina, some overall wear as always with earlier Golden Hamsas.

Reff. Gear group 3; Mikkelsen ...

A finely matched set of 7 bronze Hamsa bird opium weights, all from the same undertype of Shan hamsas, issued from ca. 1770 AD.

The set includes some nice weights from the massive 20 tical weight all the way down to the scarce 1/4 Tical weight.

This Hamsa-type can be dated to c. 1770-1820. They have normal hexagonal bases, engraved with concenthric lines. Six rayed star mark at the base.

Set includes weights of:

317 grams = 20 Tical: Very fine, brown pa...

Rare and massive Shan Weight of 1/2 Viss (50 Tical), Shan States, ca. 1800-1850 AD.

A finely patinated bronze weight; U-tail, Duck-like with hanging tail feathers, with handle and standing on a finely decorated round and stepped base.

Size: 9,3 ca. high

Weight: ca. 835 grams.

Condition: Superb, excarvated, nice smooth wear and fine green and brown patina.

Reff: Leif B. Mikkelsen 'Opium Weights', p. 145, fig. 87. Gear Group 1+2, (diff. base)...

An very attractive massive To or Beast type of bronze opium weight, Burmese, 1550-1630.

Weight: 304 grams = 20 tical

A scarce early type of weight on a hexagonal decorated base with round circular depression mark at the front.

Condition: Choice for the high age, smooth even wear and lovely olive patina.

Reff. Mikkelsen p. 142, figure

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

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...

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...

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

Very large and with a beautiful silver patina, uncleaned on the recessed side. 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.

One of the finest and largest we've seen of these, normally of bronze and rarely of silver or silv...

A lovely patinated silver box for betel Chewing, Burma or Lanna, 19th. century. High grade silver!

Height 6,5cm, ø 12,5cm; weighing 166g.

Low box for a betel-chewing ingridient, star and flower on the lid, on the sides zigzag pattern, the whole background covered with petal-like nubs. A beautifully incised goat on the bottom.

Condition: Good very fine, warm old patina.

Ex R. Reichenmeier Collection from 1970s.

A lovely high patinated 'Gao' prayer box with the Lama Letter and monastery laquer seal inside, the box probably deep into the 18th. century, the letter an early 20th. century addition in english.

Beautiful ancient box with extensive smooth wear and decoration on the front. The letter inside on silky paper, handmade and coloured. Comes with a monastery seal with Budhha.

Size: 10 x 11 cm. and c. 5 cm. thick and quite sturdy metal.

Condition: Choice Very fine, stu...

A rarely offered, early bronze opium weight of Burmese origin, 1600 AD!

Highly attractive massive bronze weight of the archaic style with a round base with verticals, beautyfully made, depicting a ‘Toe’ or lionbeast – a mythical animal. Added weightmass between legs and a circular verification mark at the front of base. Very charming early asian antique!

One of the finest in the Abrahamsen collection, in our opinion, since it combines size, early classic style with a...

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. 250 Opium weights, hand-picked from 1991-2006, by the collector f...

One of the largest genuine old Burmese bronze opium Weights, Burma, ca. 1750-1780 AD.

Size: Nearly 11 cm. high

Weight: ca. 1550 grams, which should date to the later part of 18th. century.

Condition: Superb, excarvated with smooth wear, fine dark and tinned patina with green dusty highlights, a beautiful piece.

Reff: Leif B. Mikkelsen 'Opium Weights', p. 145, Gear Group 1+2 (var)

Provenance: Important massive Danish Private Collection o...

Tibetan, c. 16th.-18th. century. The bell is made in a silverish bronze metal, with the vajra handle once gilt. Most of these bells are from the 19th.-20th. century, but this bell is earlier.

A rare early Tibetan bronze ceremonial bell, with a gilt vajra shaped handled, finely cast with the image of a bodhisattva’s head (much wear from use!), the top of the bell with low-relief Sanskrit characters on lotus petals, small vajra pattern along the fluted edges of the bell, and an inner ...

A splendid ritual silver necklace, southeastern Asian, ca. late 19th. century AD.- early 20th. cent.

The necklace with engraved bib or collar with fish amid scrolled foliates and geometric borders, traditional sides recalling a bird with downswept engraved tips (joined for mounting by circular and elongated links)

The whole necklace is greatly elongated with two hammered fishes, dangling long beads and a large butterfly below.

Extremely beautiful silver work.