Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art (324)

A large Chinese Canton enamel bowl finely painted with flowers and peaches on a ruby-red ground. The interior with turquoise, the base with white enamel. Condition: footrim with three small enamel losses, few hairlines. Good - regarding the age and delicacy of the material. Please consult the photos, they make part of the condition report. Dimension approx.: bowl: diameter: 15.3 cm, height: 7.1 cm.

A pierced fragment of an antique Tibetan or Nepalese torana, worked in copper repousse with remains of gilding and colors. Showing a caparisoned elephant with a snow lion on his back, lifting a deity riding on the mythical beast "sharabha". Condition: wear to gilding, slightly warped. Dimension: 36.5 cm high x 15 cm widw x 2.5 cm deep.

A gunpowder horn dating to the 19th / early 20th century. The curved body is made from water buffalo horn, the wide end with a wooden stopper, the suspension area with a Singha head and a bronze chain. The gunpowder was stored in the Batak house in large gourds, the chief carried his own personal supply in such containers, which he wore suspended from a chain around his neck. Condition: the spout was originally with a closing mechanism now partially lost, some small losses and lost pins...

A pair Japanese porcelain plates decorated with a mountain hermitage and some roundels one containing a rabbit in the Ko-Kutani palette. Base with "fuku" mark, the rim with brown dressing and the underside with pine needles. Condition: fine, base with partial brownish stains and dull glaze. Dimension: diameter: 18.8 cm x 3 cm high.

A black netting fabric with stylized figural pattern worked in metal. Very popular around the 1920's. Provenance: old Swiss collection. Dimension: c. 58 x 197.5 cm, weight: 315 g. Condition: fine.

A brown/black netting fabric with geometric pattern worked in metal. Very popular around the 1920's. Provenance: old Swiss collection. Dimension: c. 63 x 210 cm, weight: 300 g. Condition: clean, one small hole (see picture no. 6).

Carmine red silk ground fabric with star lattice pattern in silver and gold paper wrapped threads, using the songket supplementary weft technique. Maybe a ceremonial shoulder cloth (kain selendang). Provenance: old Swiss collection. Condition: wear to the metallic twine, only partially preserved. Holes, wear, one rim with loss. Dimension: 133 cm x 53.2 cm.

These two saddle rugs, in knotted pile, are forming a pair and were used together: the larger piece with trapezoid ends served as a saddle cloth (makden), while the smaller rug was a saddle cover (masho). Both items are in their original condition, with a red trim and backed with a coarse beige fabric. Provenance: old Swiss collection. Dimension approx.: makden: 120.5 x 67 cm, masho: 82.5 x 66 cm. Condition: signs of age and wear, rims with partial discoloration, faded.

A complete Tausug raw silk sash (kandit) with long fringes. Tapestry weaving with geometric and zigzag design from the Sulu Archipelago near Mindanao in the Philippines. Provenance: old Swiss collection. Condition: slightly faded, patina, little staining, a small thin area. Dimension approx.: 36.3 cm x 355 cm (with fringes).

A rare Tausug raw silk sash fragment woven in two pieces. Tapestry weaving with geometric pattern and zigzag design from the Sulu Archipelago near Mindanao in the Philippines. Provenance: old Swiss collection. Condition: slightly faded, one narrow side shortened, patina, little staining, a small hole. Dimension approx.: 33.3 cm x 228 cm.

A rare Tausug sash made in tapestry weaving, raw silk with geometric pattern and zigzag design from the Sulu Archipelago near Mindanao in the Philippines. Provenance: old Swiss collection. Condition: faded, one narrow side maybe little shortened, patina, stained, discolored, few small thin areas and one selvage with small fraying. Dimension approx.: 36 cm x 275 cm.

A Chinese court "chao fu" silk skirt, altered as a Carnival costume, using one quarter of the skirt as a flap (photo No. 6). Night blue silk with sixteen dragon roundels and four five-clawed "long" dragons pursuing the flaming pearl among clouds, bats and cranes, above waves, stylized rocks and the "lishui" pattern. Embroidery in polychrome satin stitch and couched metal threads...

A square composite panel made of antique embroideries from the Greek islands (Ottoman Empire). The basic fabrics are different plain cotton weaves, embroidered with silk or wool and metal wrapped threads. Traces of former mounting, maybe as a pillow cover. Condition: one hole (see photo no. 4), some slits, some missing threads, little faded. Dimension: 51 cm x 52.5 cm.

A leather or skin bag with original wonderfully cast brass fittings, both ends of the chain in the form of a singha head, the mythical beast, totem for all Batak People. Shamans "datu" kept magical substances in these bags. Please compare to the "salipi" in the collection of the "Musee du Quai Branly" in Paris. Condition: wear to leather and few small holes. Dimension: leather bag: c. 30 high x 31 wide x 10.8 cm deep, chain: 2 x 44 cm long.

Small Indian deity cast in bronze with a high copper content depicting the dancing god Krishna as a child holding in one hand a butter ball. Condition: patina, traces of usage, rubbed. Dimension: 8.3 cm high.

A small Indian deity cast in bronze with a high copper content, depicting an athletic male deity sitting on a lotus throne holding his hands in anjali mudra and holding a kind of hack. Condition: signs of worshipping, base slightly bent, one underarm with a crack. Dimension: 6.5 cm high.

An Iranian mirror with intricately carved wooden frame reminiscent of Persian rug design, covered with clear lacquer. Condition: pinnacle with losses, the mirror glass with some imperfections and lost corner. Dimension: total: 35.2 cm long x 16.7 wide x 2.3 cm deep.

An antique statue of the lucky god Zhang Guolao holding a fish drum, a Chinese percussion instrument. Carved from a large bamboo piece with nice patina. One of the eight immortals of the Chinese Taoist pantheon. Condition: sticks of the instrument lost, some short cracks and chips. Dimension: c. 34.6 cm high. Please compare to item # 1434476, item #1434720, item #1435015 for another carvings of the same group.

An antique statue of the lucky god Han Xiangzi holding a Chinese flute, carved from a large bamboo piece with nice patina. One of the eight immortals of the Chinese Taoist pantheon. Condition: headgear with a hairline, maybe the flute shortened. Dimension: c. 35 cm high. Please compare to item # 1434476, item #1434720, item #1435291 for another carvings of the same group.

An antique statue of the lucky goddess He Xiangu holding a lotus, carved from a large bamboo piece with nice patina. One of the eight immortals of the Chinese Taoist pantheon. Condition: a small chip near the hem. Dimension: c. 35.8 cm high. Please compare to item # 1434476, item #1435291 and item #1435015 for another carving of the same group.

An antique statue of Li Tieguai resting with one foot on a crutch and holding a gourd, carved from a large bamboo piece with nice patina. One of the eight immortals of the Chinese Taoist pantheon. Condition: the hand holding the gourd and the crutch around the foot with glue residue. Dimension: c. 34.5 cm high. Please compare with item #1434720, item #1435291 and item #1435015 an immortal of the same group.

A rare writing box made of papier-maché with polychrome and gold decoration under a lacquer varnish showing different Hindu gods as Hanuman, Krishna etc. Condition: traces of usage, wear, lacquer and further small losses, some cracking. Dimension: c. 28.5 x 9.5 x 7.7 cm.

A large wooden Christian cross with beautiful lotus and vines decoration inlaid in engraved mother of pearl, originating from Macau, Vietnam or Southern China. Rearside with paper label. Crosses such as this example would have served in the teaching of the Bible in East Asia. Condition: partially chipped rims, center with restaured area (please see photo no. 7). Dimension: c. 60.5 cm x 32.5 cm x 1.9 cm.

A large betel-box "kun it" with one internal tray, made of woven and coiled split bamboo covered with lacquer. The slightly domed lid and the drum with yun decoration of king and court scenes and several inscriptions. The interiors with plain cinnabar red lacquer. Condition: traces of usage, some age cracks and wear, rim and lacquer losses, lid with a damaged area. Dimension: diameter: c. 23 cm, 21.3 cm high. Provenance: Swiss collection.

A brass kettle once used by the wealthy Malay to serve drinking water during weddings or festivals or it may have also been used to store water for washing the right hand after eating. Often produced by the Minangkabau brass or bronze casters of Western Sumatra. Movable handle. Condition: traces of usage, handle with remains of soldering. Dimension: c. 23.8 cm high, c. 26 cm long, weight: 1450 g...

A spherical Sumatran lime box beautifully cast in bronze or brass with patina, decoration showing stylized lotus pod bud. Betel nut chewing accessory, the interior with lime residue, two piercings. Condition: traces of usage. Dimension: diameter: 8.6 cm, 6.5 cm high. For similar pieces please visit the online Collection of the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore (www.roots.gov.sg).

A set of five Chinese export silver serving pieces with beautiful pierced bamboo design. Each flatware with French import mark of a swan. Condition: traces of usage. The trowel's handle probably with a restaured area. Dimension: largest piece: c. 20.2 cm long and 6.6 cm wide. Total weight: 222 g.

A square opium tray with vertical rim and recessed corners, made of baitong ("white copper", an alloy from different metals). The interior nicely incised with three ladies standing before a house with a moon window. Condition: some traces of usage, the corners with solder residue,some spots. The base: not completely even and with some spots. Dimension: c. 25.3 cm x 25.3 cm, c. 1.5 cm high, weight: 950g.

A peepal tree leaf finely painted in ink, colour and gold, depicting two Buddhist disciples in a landscape setting. Pasted on grey cardboard, with inscription in gold and red seal on the left side. Mounted in a lotus leaf shaped frame and base, carved from hardwood. Condition: lower left corner with a stain, some traces of usage. Dimension: total height: c. 25.8 cm, 19.3 cm wide, Bodhi leaf: c. 16 x 13 cm, weight: 352 g.

A Syrian bell-mouthed brass vase decorated with interlacing patterns, tendrils and Islamic calligraphy inscriptions, beautifully engraved and inlaid in silver and copper. Base with date. Condition: fine, a bit naturally distorted, few traces of usage. Dimension: 26.8 cm high, weight: 729 g.

A Japanese studio porcelain okimono of Daruma (the legendary Chinese Buddhist monk Bodhidharma), dating to the first half of the 20th C. The long robe with thick celadon glaze, the face with fierce expression, the ears with movable earrings. Base with sealmark. Condition: fine, one ear with firing crack. Dimension: 22.8 cm high, weight: 1.2 kg.

An elegant Ottoman tulip candlestick in the plain style. Bell-shaped base with deep drip tray, the rim with two loops, the multifaceted baluster neck ending in a tulip shaped finial. Condition: please look at the photos carefully (they make part of the condition report) drip tray and finial with a small, old loss, one loop with solder residue, negligible dents. Dimension: c. 27.3 cm high, base diameter: 10.8 cm, weight: 690 g.

A small pair of Chinese biscuit porcelain vases with moulded decoration of the eight Chinese immortals amidst clouds, painted in the "famille noire" palette. Mouth and base without glaze. Condition: fine. Dimension: c. 13 cm high.

Antique Chinese silver fish set for 12 persons, with twelve forks and twelve knives. All handles with decoration of small Chinese figures among pagodas and a shield-shaped cartouche with monogram "S", the silver tines and blades engraved. Unmarked. Condition: traces of usage, tines partially little distorted, tips of seven blades chipped. Dimension: fork: length: c. 18.2 cm, knife: length: c. 21 cm. Total weight: 1110 g.

A round shaped silver lingam box (ayigalu or shivadhara) with its original chain. A neck amulet once worn by a wealthier lay member of the Lingayat sect in South India. Markings. Here without jangama lingam. Condition: traces of usage. Dimension: amulet: c. 6 cm wide x 4.1 cm high, chain: total length: 54 cm, weight total: 97 g.

A pair of tiny shoes for a Han Chinese lady with bound feet, dating to the late Qing dynasty. Made of silk, the lower part embroidered with flowers in satin stitch, the upper part with brocaded silk ribbons. Cotton lining and soles. Condition: fine, only little wear. Dimension: total length: c. 13.5 cm, height: c. 11.8 cm.