Catalog (85)

The charming old tribal womans purse is heavily embroidered on each side and is decorated with mirrors and cowrie shells. Condition is very good, no rips, no tears, just beautifully faded vegetable dyes.

This traditional small leather purse would have been used as an ornament and hung from a belt by a Tibetan woman during festival. It is heavily decorated with silver metal, turquoise and coral beads. This is an old one and is in excellent condition.

This antique copper gau would have been kept in a prayer niche in the home and would be worn as an ornament for festival. In place of the Tsatsa (clay figure), there is a Tsakli. It was common practice to use a tsakli (small picture card) to represent the religious item which would be placed in the gau, when time and money became available. The original written talisman remains inside the gau also.

Gaus like this were commonly used by the Tibetans living inside China and those livi...

Heavy fine silver bracelet. Bands of braided silver alost 2 inches wide Origin Maduya Pradesh India Raj period. Weighs 8.2 oz...

Out of Mongolia, this old leather tobacco pouch was made with a large button for hanging, long leather tassels, home made interesting decorative leather ornamentation...and hanging hook for removing old tobacco from pipe... Clearly old and well used: the leather is still playable. Great example of ethnographic folk art

This embroidery panel was originally the front bodice of a dress...Hand embroidered over several layers of heavy fabric and using mirrors and silver and gold metallic threads...this dress bodice was a show piece probably used only for important occasions i.e. weddings etc. Very ornately embroidered, this panel measures 19 x 22 inches. the picture of the back side of the bodice indicates serious wear and age...

I was thrilled to acquire this rare Mongolian textile. Utilizing all couching embroidery technique on red wool fabric, it depicts 2 golden dragons chasing the sun. The condition of this piece is remarkably good condition for its age, showing 2 small areas of repair on the top corners. It measures 40" long by 18" from the top to the bottom tip of the tasseles

Hanging from the belt on a leather strap, the stylized milking hook was the essential item of ornamentation for any Tibetan woman properly dressed for a festival. Surrounding the hook surface is a heavy etched silver band. The bronze/brass hook has is etched with markings and is inset with 5 large beads, set in silver bezels. The original leather strap shows lots of wear.

These ceremonial hooks have become hard to obtain. The hook alone measures 5.5 inches long and the strap adds anothe...

This antique document case would be used to house and transport important documents. The high quality silver decoration of vines and flowers uses both pierced and repousse techniques. The curious emblem displays a spade, heart, club and diamond. Originally owned by a wealthy family, it is from what was considered northern India, (possibly now Pakistan), during the Raj period, before partition. This document case has been held in a private collection for many years.

The case is in excellan...

Tibetan woman wore their hair in long braids which were slipped into elaborately embroidered textile sleeves for festivals.

The black stone tile has mosaic inlay of mother of pearl Taj Mahal detailed with black pen ink lines. This Anglo Indian Victorian piece from the Raj era would have come from the Visagapatam region of India, which was known for its finely detailed black pen ink designs.

Pristine condition and very beautiful. Measured top to bottom and side to side 6 inches each way...measured point to point 6.5 inches

Old wooden Phurba...nicely aged patina from handling and use... Faces topped with diadems, 3 side "blade"section has carved scroll design almost 11 inches long high. Alternative spelling...phurpa,phurbha, Pronunciation: Fur-bah The Phurba is a special triple sided Tibetan ritual dagger or stake, patterned after an ancient Vedic tool. Originated as a stake that tethered sacrificial animals. It is used ritually to create stability and areas of protected space, often staked into the gro...

Asian buffalo Horn with Silver over copper mounts with turquoise stones... This type of drinking horn was a common household item used throughout Mongolia...each family member had his (or her) own drinking horn and they were kept on a wooden rack which was made for that purpose... Condition 2 beads missing...silver is worn through in several area,exposing copper base...which is commensurate with normal use and aging

This face-sized antique mask of a shaman or Buddhist priest is from Tibet. The hand carving is both delicate and simple, with chisel marks showing on the back of the mask.

I bought this antique Tibetan ethnic minority needle case years ago in China. Needles were an important sewing tool for women of every indigenous culture and for the Tibetans the needle case was frequently worn as a jewelry accessory for costume adornment festivals. The small jade bi functions as a weight for stability at the bottom of the needle case. It is beautiful.

This Indo-Persian antique silver repousse lidded container box was probably intended for cosmetics. The elaborate design work is flawless and the attention to detail were hallmarks of luxury items made during the late 19th century in both India and Persia. There are 2 makers marks and some scratches on the bottom of the box. See picture

The box is 3.5 inches in diameter and is 1.5 inches high

Beautiful antique silver bracelet from Himalayan region, my best quess is Nepal. Six Lapis Lazuli stones set in convex curve with etched leaf design that covers the background of the bracelet. Hinge and pin opening gives easy on and off usage.

Nice weight, no marks, width is 1.25 inches, each stone is .5 inches by .75 inches, nice weight, excellant condition, no dings, no dents

This antique Dhokra depicts a large fish being ridden by 2 women and is probably representing some tribal legend or myth. Dhokras were made by the Kondh tribe of the state of Orissa India. The Dhokra, or small sculptures, were made as toys, ritual objects as well as gifts and talismans. They were much a part of tribal craftsmanship and culture during the 1700's and 1800's. Dhokras were made from a clay base with a net-like pattern and then cast in bronze using the lost wax technique. Be...