Catalog (75)

A seal made of bronze, decorated in relief with one of the eight Buddhist symbols -- the Two Fish --- on its top, and the Buddhist Banner around its body, and finally with one of the eight Buddhist symbols --- the Eternal Knot --- beneath. Leather cord. Fine reddish-green patina. Tibet, 18th century. Height: 51 mm. Very good condition.

Taoist statue of a Judge in Hell, sitting, in formal attire, his hands joined together. Votive box at the back, now open. Wood, with traces of lacquering and polychrome painting. China Qing Dynasty, 19th century. Height: 18 cm. Abrasion due to age, otherwise very good condition.

Small architectural ornament, carved in the shape of a Garuda, standing under a triangular platform with his wings open. Wood, fine dark patina. Nepal, 18th century, probably earlier. Height: 4 1/8" (10,5 cm). The piece is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Old traces of woodworm work (no danger), large chip on right side of platform, otherwise good condition. Note: in Hindu religion, Garuda is a demigod, half man half eagle, who carries god Vishnu.

Beautifully carved butter churner guide ("Ghurra' or "neti"), decorated with a relief rope and chevron design. Wood, with fine dark-brown patina. Himalayan Region. Length: 11 1/4" (23,5 cm). The piece is nicely mounted on a custom wood stand. Obvious signs of use and age, otherwise very good condition. NOTE: the "ghurra" was collected in situ in the early 1970s, during my 20 years stay in Asia.

Pendant of rectangular shape ending in a triangle on its top, with a loop for possible attachment to a necklace. The pendant is decorated with an embossed design of tribal style representing Hindu god Virabhadra standing with his four arms and weapons/attributes, and surrounded by a dotted aureola. Bronze, with fine reddish green patina. India, 18th century. Height: 5.3 cm. Very good condition.

Finely cast small statue of Hindu Goddess Annapurna, sitting cross-legged on an elevated throne, holding the ritual spoon in both hands. Bronze, with reddish and green patina. India, 17th century, maybe earlier. Height: 4.3 cm. Abrasion due to great age, otherwise good condition.

Miniature altar dedicated to Hindu Goddess Annapurna. The goddess is shown sitting cross-legged on a lotus throne, holding her ritual spoon on her lap, and backed by an aureola. Bronze, with traces of its original green patina. India, ca. 17th century. Height: 4.7 cm. Strong abrasion due great age, otherwise very good condition.

Pair of small Shiva lingam carved in dark marble. The first one, smaller, has part of its aureola missing. The other one is taller and more elaborate, with a double aureola and the Naga snake surmounting the lingam, and has small chips. India, early 19th century, maybe earlier. Heights: 6.7 and 9.3 cm.

Elaborate mask of Citipati, made of embossed, gilt and painted, bronze. Partly encrusted reddish-green patina. Tibet, 18th century. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Height (without stand): 26 cm. Very good condition. A very rare piece.

Intricately carved mask for the Nuo esoteric theater, representing the legendary character of Bao Gong, or Judge Bao, wearing a formal hat, his face in relief with a fierce expression, with bulging eyes, open mouth revealing fangs, and a stylised beard. Wood, with traces of the original polychrome colouring. China, 18th century. Height: 29.6 cm. Very good condition despite signs of old insect infestation (no danger).

Rare and important mask of Defender of the Buddhist Faith, with an aggressive expression, bulging eyes, open mouth showing fangs, sun and moon symbols on forehead, stylized beard. Wood, with traces of kaolin in the recesses. Himalayan Region, Bhutan or Tibet, 18th century, probably earlier. Height: 14 1/2" (38 cm). The mask is mounted on a custom wood stand. Old accidents, erosion, otherwise good condition. Provenance: Old American collection.

Very old mask of Defender of the Buddhist Faith, inspired from the God Mahakala, with a terrifying expression meant to ward off evil spirits. Wood, with nice slightly encrusted glossy dark patina. Himalayan Region, Bhutan or Tibet, 18th century, probably earlier. Height: 11" (28 cm). The mask is nicely mounted on a custom wood stand. Very good condition. NOTE: Together with masks # 1-0761 and # 1-0762, this mask was acquired from an old American collection.

Ancient mask of the traditional esoteric "Nuo" theater, representing the character of General Guanyu, wearing his helmet. Wood, with multiple superimposed polychrome pigments, meant to enhance the mask features, of which part is painted on paper glued to the mask. China, early 19th C. Height: 33 cm. The mask is mounted on a custom stand. Very good condition.

Very large mask representing the Hindu god Hanuman, one of the heroes of the Ramayana epic. Small ears, eyes in relief, long nose and upper jaw, open pierced through mouth showing teeth, large lower jaw. Two large holes at eye level to allow the bearer of the mask to see. Wood, with brown semi-glossy patina. Himalayan Region, early 20th century, maybe earlier. Length: 13 3/4" (35 cm). The mask is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand which enhances its strange beauty and aspect. Very good condi...

Large Buddhist ritual bell, with a lavish decoration of a "vajra" on its top, four deities faces below, and geometric and stylized lotus decor on its body. Bronze, with beautiful encrusted green and red patina. Traces of gilding. Indonesia, ca. 15th to 16th century. Height: 9 5/8" (24,5 cm). Obvious signs of great age, otherwise very good condition.

Important and rare mask carved in wood fungus, of the tinder fungus type (fomes fomentarius), of rounded triangular form, with perforated oval eyes, incised mouth and nose in relief, probably added. Length: 30 cm. Height: 18.7 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Very good condition. NOTE: the tinder fungus is a parasite which grows particularly on the birch tree. This tree is highly venerated by numerous cultures with a shamanic tradition, because it is supposed to harbor deities...

Mask with a curved shape showing highly stylized features. Wood, with fine glossy brown patina. Nepal, early 20th century. Height: 28.7 cm. Small and old accidents, otherwise very good condition. A rare type of Himalayan mask.

Very old small "korwar", or funeral altar, representing a human figure with a huge head, standing on a rounded base, legs half bent, and holding with both hands an elaborated openwork shield. Wood, with fine age patina. Indonesia, Papua Province, Cenderawasi Bay. Height: 23.7 cm. Strong abrasion due to age, old accidents, otherwise good condition.

Fine Tibetan "damaru" (ritual drum), made of silver and leather. The silver part is in the form of two "kapala shaped" parts, separated by a central silver belt, decorated with several turquoise and coral inserts, to which the handle is attached. This silver part is lavishly decorated with an embossed relief design representing foliage and Buddhist symbols. The leather part is painted in green. Two cotton cords, ending in two small balls are also attached to the drum to strike it. The damaru da...

Face mask of oval shape, with typical cubistic features. Wood, dark-brown patina, remnants of kaolin around the eyes. Africa, R.D. Congo (ex. Zaire), Lwalwa Peoples. Height: 11 5/8" (29,7 cm). The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Old accident locally restored on top of coiffe, otherwise very good condition.

Statue of a sitting protector, with squarish features, his hands in praying posture. Strongly eroded wood, with remnants of kaolin on some areas. Nepal, 19th C. Height: 39 cm. The statue is mounted on a custom stand. NOTE: collected in 1974 by its former owner.

Wood statue of a bearded Taoist deity, in formal attire, sitting on a throne. China, Late Yuan, early Ming Dynasty. Height: 24.3 cm. Obvious signs of great age, otherwise good condition.

Face mask of almost flat shape, with rectangular protruding forehead, long triangular nose, pierced-through rectangular eyes and mouth. Wood, with fine dark-brown patina. Animal hair has been affixed with black resin, to represent eyebrows, moustache and beard. Old rope still attached to the mask. Himalayas, 19th century, probably even earlier. Height: 10 1/4" (25,5 cm). The mask is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand that enhances its strange beauty. Obvious signs of long use and great age, ...

Statue of a standing protector, his arms alongside his torso. Eroded wood, fine patina. Nepal, early 20th C. Height: 44 cm. The statue is mounted on a custom stand. Left leg partly missing, otherwise good condition. NOTE: collected in 1974 by its former owner.

Rare statue of a sitting female protector, her hands in praying posture. Eroded wood, fine patina. Nepal, mid 20th C. Height: 34 cm. Very good condition. NOTE: collected in 1974 by its former owner.

Beautifully cast, with fine details, miniature statue of Bodhisattva Manjusri, sitting cross-legged on a lotus throne resting on a pedestal with a stylised lion on each side. A stylised book resting on a lotus surmounts his left shoulder, while his hand is holding the sword which kills ignorance. Gilt bronze, with fine patina. Tibet, 18th century. Height: 7.5 cm. Gilding partly missing, otherwise very good condition. NOTE: At the back of the pedestal, two rectangular perforations suggest that or...

Statue of God Chao Kung Ming, the Military Wealth God, dressed in military garb, half sitting on a throne, his left hand holding a coin, his left foot tramping the head of a dragon, his right leg resting on a lion. Votive box open at the back and still containing a paper. Lacquered and painted wood in gold and polychrome colors. China, 18th century. Height: 8 3/4" (22,2 cm). Old insect infestation (no danger), otherwise very good condition.

Statue of a taoist dignitary, in formal attire, standing with a martial posture on an elevated base. Votive box still closed at the back. Wood, with remnants of superimposed layers of polychrome and gold painting. China, 19th century. Height: 13 " (32,5 cm). Left hand partly chipped, old insect infestation (no more danger), otherwise good condition.

Long offering vessel in the shape of a "yoni" (stylised female sex) with a centrally placed pointed "lingam" (stylised male sex). Hammered copper, with a fine reddish-green patina. India, early 19th century. Length: 26 cm. Very good condition. A rather rare object. NOTE: The Yoni is the symbol of the Hindu Goddess Shakti, while the male counterpart is the Hindu God Shiva's Lingam Their union represents the eternal process of creation and regeneration. Normally holy water is poured from the Yoni...

Statue of a Taoist deity, in formal attire, seated on a throne. Wood, decorated with polychrome pigments. Small votive box at the back. China, Qing dynasty, end of 19th century. Height: 22.7 cm. Traces of candle soot on the front, old insect attack beneath (no danger), otherwise good condition.

Statue of a Taoist exorcist ("yingong"), in formal attire, sitting on a throne, holding his commandment baton in his right hand and a bowl containing the lustral water in his left. Wood, coated with polychrome painting. Animal hair used to represent the moustache and the beard. Votive box at the back, lid missing. China, early 20th century. Height: 25 cm. Painting partly flaking, otherwise very good condition.

Small "ghau", the front side, made of bronze, is decorated with a foliage and lotus design, the box itself ans its lid being made of copper with bronze handles. The "ghau" contains a tiny bronze statue of Bodhisattava Manjusri and textile. Fine age patina. A leather cord allows attachement of the "ghau" to a belt. Tibet, 19th century. Very good condition.

Terracotta votive plate depicting six seated Buddhist deities surmounting four smaller ones. Thailand, Khmer period known as Lopburi, 12-14th century. 91 mm high x 68 mm wide x 17 mm thick. The plate is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Abrasion due to great age, otherwise very good condition.

Funeral mirror of circular shape decorated with an adorned square at its center, surrounded by symbols, and with a geometric design in relief around its rim. Bronze, with a nice slightly encrusted red and green patina. China, Han Dynasty. Diameter: 8.9 cm. Very good condition. NOTE: this mirror is part of a small collection of funeral mirrors collected many years ago that we are starting to offer presently.

Funeral mirror of circular shape decorated around its center with two chimeras facing each other. Bronze, with a nice slightly encrusted red and green patina on some areas. China, Jin Dynasty. Diameter: 8.5 cm. Very good condition. NOTE: this mirror is part of a small collection of funeral mirrors collected many years ago that we are starting to offer presently.

Earthenware offering plate depicting seven seated Buddha surmounting fine Buddhist devotees. Thailand Khmer period known as Lopburi, 12-14th century. 72 mm high x 55 mm wide x 14 mm thick. The piece is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Abrasion due to age, otherwise very good condition.