Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent (38)

A small carved wooden stele from Nepal of a Buddhist or more likely Hindu deity, maybe Indra. Bejeweled god with a fan-shaped crown, seated on a lotus base in lalita-sana under a mandorla. Traces of vermilion. Condition: see photos, wear, and small losses. Dimension: total height: c. 17.3 cm, c. 10.3 cm wide, c. 5 cm deep.

An elegant double-bell shaped Indian spitoon made of zinc alloy, decorated with poppy motifs, inlaid in silver. Condition: few inlay losses (see first and photo No. 11 and 12). Dimension: c. 15.3 cm high, diameter: c. 12.1 cm, weight: 1020 g.

A silver box with hinged lid, standing on four ball feet the base with Arabic inscription. An oblong silver tray on four feet and a fine small dish. Condition: some traces of usage, box not closing completely. Dimension: box: c. 12.6 x 6.9 x 4.4 cm, weight: 211 g, oblong tray: c. 16.5 x 11.5 x 1.2 cm, weight: 148 g, dish: 11 x 0.7 cm, weight: 44 g.

A large Kashmir lidded presentation cup with handles in serpent form. Allover with foliage design. Condition: fine, traces of usage, some wear to tinning. Dimension: c. 36.5 cm high, handle to handle: c. 29.5 cm, weight: 2 kg.

A fine pair of Kashmir lidded jars or vases. The copper base was first engraved with special tools to create the design in relief, the grooves were later filled with glass and then embellished with additional engraving and wonderful shiny gilding. This technique is called in India "meena" or "meenakari" and was first applied by the Mughal. Condition: fine, only one rim with a small dent and minor wear to gilding. Dimension: c. 18 cm high, diameter: c. 12.5 cm, total weight:

Four wonderfully executed oval Indian paintings of Mughal rulers in gouache and gold on paper. Framed behind glass in a gilt wooden frame, in France in the 19th century. The passe-partout with handwritten titles as: "Shah Ichan" (Jahan?), "Shah Alum" (Alam), "Azime Shah" and "Miran Shah". Reverses with the label of the framer. Condition: the frames with traces of usage and age and small losses, one frame damaged. Dimension: portraits: c. 9.5 x 7.5 cm, frames: 24 x 20 cm.

An assemblage of a figural Baluchari silk sari end panel fragment, showing three European men riding on a railway coach, dating around 1800. Edged with a Kashmiri wool shawl fragment. Once framed and possibly sold as souvenir. Mounted on cardboard. Condition: faded and few tiny stains, border with few small losses. Dimension total: 30.6 x 25.3 cm.

An assemblage of a figural Baluchari silk sari end panel fragment, showing five European men riding on double-deck railway coach, dating around 1800. Edged with a Kashmiri wool shawl fragment and edged with linen or cotton. Once framed and possibly sold as souvenir. Mounted on cardboard. Condition: faded, a stain. Dimension total: 30.8 x 25.5 cm.

An assemblage of a figural Baluchari silk sari end panel fragment, showing two nobles on a strange vehicle, dating around 1800. Edged with a yellow Kashmiri or Persian wool shawl fragment, embroidered with boteh pattern. Once framed and possibly sold as souvenir. Mounted on cardboard. Condition: faded, some losses and stains. Dimension total: 25.4 x 20.2 cm.

A copper "gau" prayer box, the lid with chased Kalachakra mantra. Inside a fine "tsakli" painting on canvas in colors and gold, depicting the deity "Green Tara", sitting on a lotus throne. The fitted tsakli is removable and with no inscription on the backside. Condition: painting little rubbed, gau interior with some verdigris. Dimension: gau: 9.5 x 11.3 x 3.2 cm, height tsakli: c. 8.5 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.

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.

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.

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 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 North Indian pandan steel casket for offering betel. Of circular form with hinged lid, inlaid with flower scrolls in silver. Condition: interior with some oxidation. Dimension: diameter: 12 cm, 9.3 cm high, weight: 606 g.

A Kashmir papier-mache vase with polychrome and gold lacquer decoration in the Mughal style. Showing couple of birds on a mille-fleurs ground or a golden feather pattern, framed by a mihrab border. The sides with two small handles in the shape of tiger heads. Condition: some chips and losses to the lacquer. Dimension: c. 22.8 cm high.