Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian (339)

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...

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 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...

A pair of earlier Opium weights, denominal 10 Ticals, (weight approx 160 grams and 152 grams), Shan, late 18th. century.

Nice Shan Ducks of a good size, with fine brown patinas. Both on Hexagonal bases one stepped and one decorated on top.

Condition: Choice, very nicely preserved.

Ex. Large Danish Private Collection, see See Leif Bering Mikkelsen, P. 145.

Nice different specimens of the old Karaweik bird type 10 tical bronze opium weight, Burma (from Ava, Rangoon, Amarapura), 18th. century.

Both on octagonal base, with three neck-ridges and spikes, with different varieties of backcovers.

Weight: 152 & 156 grams = 10 tical.

Condition: F-VF, rich brown patinas

Refference: Gear Group 2/3...

An elaborate silvered bronze 10 tical opium weight with lovely patina, ca. 1750-1776 AD.

Attractive weight of the Toe type, 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...

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...

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

A lovely large bronze weight of an Elephant, nice early piece, Lanna, deep in the 18th. cent.

A very nicely shaped Elephant, standing on a 5-stepped octagonal base, with value mark in the front and adjustment marks under the base.

Weight: 65,15 grams = 5 Baht.

Condition: Superb, with smooth wear and attractive light brown patina.

Ex. Old Dutch Collection of Opium weights.

A fine quality smaller bronze figure of Vishnu, South Indian, perhaps Tamil Nadu, c. 18th. century or even earlier.

Size: c. 10,5 mm. tall.

Condition: Good Very fine, lovely old patina, with a fine red-brown colour.

Ex. Old and important Private collection of Ulf Gudmundsen from the 1950s and onwards.

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...

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...

A pair of large and impressive bronze opium weights of 20 Tical, square bases, c. 1780.

Nice specimens with great patinas! Different tail types and perhaps issued with 20-30 years apart, but both later 18th. century.

Weight: Both weighs are close to 300 grams = 20 Tical

Condition: F-VF, moderate wear and fine patinas

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

An interesting early bronze figure of of Kali (probably), Southern Indian, perhaps Tamil Nadu, c. 16th.-18th. century or even earlier.

Size: c. 98 mm. tall.

Condition: Very fine, old patina and much smooth wear from worship.

Provenance: Collection of Gunna Munkvad, Denmark, aquired from the 1960s-1980s.

A scarce larger, authentic bronze Opium Weight in the shape of a bridled and sadled Horse, Laotian at least 17th-19th. century.

A nice old Weight, depicting a very robust Horse with fine thick greyish tinned patina, looks like old silver!

Weight: 57,8 grams (equal to 5 Kyat).

Condition: Choice, smooth wear and many marks from old use, exceptional patina.

Provenance: Important Danish Private Collection of Opium Weights, collected between 1970s-1990 ...

A very nice early carving and highly unusual! Buddha is depicted as a crowned king seated on his double Lotus Throne held by a dragon below and with a great flaming halo behind, carved with dragons.

The carving can be dated to the late Ming-early Qing dynasty, c. 17th. century.

Size: 38,3 cm. tall.

Condition: Nice Very fine. even wear and drying of the wood chips and degradation of the paint, but with much of the original laquer and paint still preserved. Compl...

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. 250 Opium...

A lovely Qing Dynasty porcelain jar with cover c. 18th. century.

A seafind in an extremely fine condition!

Size: 6,8 cm. tall and 7,8 cm. wide.

Condition: Extremely fine, a seafind with encrusted patina in the interiour.

Ex. Danish private Collection.

A very rare massive Bi glass disc, made in very dense fine Peking glass, imitation rock-crystal, Late Ming-Early Qing dynasty, 17th.-18th. century.

Impressive piece done in an achaeistic manor, in high relief depicting a Chilong / Lion, carved and finely polished in transperant glass.

The glass disc was made in a rivial period in Chinese art, where all sorts of ancient items in different stone types were imitated in glass. This particular massive disc is extremely rare and ...

A large and beautiful pottery dish from Le Dynasty Vietnam dating to 13th-14th cent.

Finely decorated with blue floral motifs on a white underglaze. Also concentric rings in the interior.

Size: 23,5 x4,8 cm.

Condition: Near mint, with signs of age and wear.

Ex. Danish collection of South East Asian pottery.

Interesting early brass figure of the reclining Bull Nandi, Southern India, c. 18th. century.

A finely made figure, much older than most we've seen on the market.

Size: c. 9 cm. tall and 6,5 cm. wide.

Condition: Choice Very fine, smooth wear from use and polishing, redish patina inside, remnants of pigments.

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

A fine quality early wooden chinese figure of a male bearded Taoist deity, with much laquer and fine filt overall, China, Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), 18th. century.

An attractive figure of a fine style seated on a tall throne. hidden room in the back no lid.

Size: 25 cm. tall.

Condition: Good very fine for the type with much preserved colours and gilt, nice old patina speaks for the high age of the figure.

Ex. Private collection of Ulf Gudmundsen from th...

A lovely Qing Dynasty porcelain jar with cover, c. 18th. century.

A seafind in an extremely fine condition!

Size: 9,8 cm. tall and 9,5 cm. wide.

Condition: Extremely fine, a seafind with encrusted patina in the interiour.

Ex. Danish private Collection.

An pair of scarce 2 tical bronze Toe beast Opium weights, Burma, c. 18th. cent.

One with a beautiful glossy excarvated enamel patina and the other finely preserved, featuring different tails and details as well as a square and a octagonal base. Both with verifications marks of 9-rays below the bases.

Conventional wisdom tells us that the octagonal base is the oldest, but we're not certain, both types might be significantly older than Gear and others state.

Weig...

A superb quality large pottery figure of a male attendant or official, dating to the Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644.

The figure is placed on a high hexagonal plint and wears a fine two-colour blue and turquoise glazed robe. The unglazed areas have pigmented colors in red, black and white. Finely painted facial details.

The head is attachable as often seen on the largest figures from this period.

The figure is carrying a tray in front of his chest.

Size: c. 48...

A pair of massive museum quality matching pottery figures of a male and female attendants, middle Ming Dynasty, 15th.-16th. century.

The figures are matching in torquise and cobalt glazes and stands on large plints. The male figure in this pair was Termo-Luminescence testet by Ralf Kotallas Laboratory and it was made during the Middle Ming period (15th.-16th. cent.). He is holding a teapot.

The female figure is holding a jar in her hands.

Exceptional, almost mus...

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 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...

A larger elaborate pottery figure of a female Courtisan, Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD.), dating to c. 1550-1600 AD.

A beautiful young woman, seen in motion forward, in an expensive dress, holding a basket, standing on a square plint. She is glazed in fine green and yellow Sancai colors. Beautiful ornate headdress.

This type are the finest and most elegant figures we've had from Ming dynasty, with it's careful thick glazing and finely painted details.

Size: 28-29 cm...

An unusually elaborate pottery figure of a female Attendant, Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD.), dating to late Ming periodc. 1550-1600 AD.

The lady is clad in a large thick robe, with an imposing hairdress and she is wearing a basket with red flowers and is standing on a round plint. She is glazed in torquise and dark blue colours.

Nicely painted facial details, careful thick glazing and a fine expression.

Size: c. 22,5 cm. tall.

Condition: Extremely fine f...

A beautiful Chinese pottery tomb figure of a female rider / Attendant on horseback holding a string instrument in her hand. The figure dates to Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644 AD.

The figure is finely glazed in cobalt blue and turqoise colors. Pigmented colours in red, white and black.

She has an elaborate high headdress and was made with many finely painted details, high quality.

Size: c. 37 cm. high and 28 cm. long - a massive figure!

Condition: Choice, inta...

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...

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 superb quality very large pottery figure of a male attendant or official, dating to the earlier Ming Dynasty, 1400-1500 AD.

The figure is placed on a high hexagonal plint and wears a fine two-colour blue and turquoise glazed robe. The unglazed areas have pigmented colors in red, black and white. Finely painted facial details.

The head is attachable as often seen on the largest figures from this period.

The figure holds an umbralla under his arm.

...

A very large Ming Dynasty Tomb pottery horseman soldier, c. 1500 AD!

This figure is dating to the Ming dynasty around 1500 AD. and is very large!. It depicts a exceptionally scultured and detailed horseman - likely a soldier. He is seated on a horse. The soldier is fully glaced with a fantastic lively green jacket which looks like a sort of bodyarmor. The helmet, face and horse are decorated in different colours.

Size: The figure measure ca. 40 cm. in height and about 31-...

Rare pair of Chinese Chrysanthemum Bowls or dishes, China, for ritual purpose, Ming Dynasty, c. 15th. century AD.

Ritual low food bowls or dishes for a rich Ming dynasty tomb, shaped in relief after the Chrysanthemum flower with a glaze of torquise and olive colours. Quite rarely seen as a large pottery model!

Size: Each dish measure around 130 mm. in diameter.

Condition: Extremely fine intact with a nice crackled glaze patina.

About Ming Tomb figures:...