Catalog (310)

Very rare eating set comprising of: 1) a knife with horn handle with iron tip with gilt decor, the blade itself beautifully forged and decorated with incised lotus design on one side and inlaid gold stylized dragon on the other side; 2) a nicely shaped wood sheath covered with red colored shark skin and with a farming made of iron lavishly decorated with incised and gilt floral designs; 3) a pair of iron chopsticks; 4) three toothpicks made of iron with nice decoration on tip. This set belonged...

Important mask of the "kiwoyo muyombo" type, of elongated shape, with a protruding forehead and fine features, surmounted by a highly stylized cylindrical coiffe, and a long "beard" decorated in relief with bicolored lozenges and framed by weaved bamboo slices. Fine glossy patina. Africa, Gabon, Pende Peoples. Height: 45 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Small losses, otherwise very good condition.

Small relief fragment in the shape of a head of Buddha, eyes closed, his slightly smiling face reflecting a profound inner serenity. Sandstone. Cambodia, Khmer Period, Bayon Style, 13th century. The piece is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Height (without stand): 12 cm. Erosion due to great age, trace of glue on the lower left side, otherwise very good condition.

Small statue of Buddha depicting an important stage of his life when, still as Siddhartha, he sat meditating for a long time almost without eating and became emaciated and close to death, before realizing that the way to seek the Truth was not to torture oneself. Siddhartha, with an aureola at the back of his head, sits on a semi-circular throne with a vajra in relief on its front. Gilt copper, with a fine patina. Tibet or China, 19th century, maybe earlier. Height: 8.5 cm. Gilding partly missi...

Snuff bottle of flat circular form, the body itself made of ivory. The bottle has a silver neck with an intricate decoration affixing it to the body. It also has an opening at its center with round silver relief decor mount, the lid ending in a coral top. On one side, another relief decoration representing a four sided dorje with a loop for attachment to a belt. Tibet, 19th century. Diameter: 5 cm. Stopper and spoon missing, otherwise very good condition. Provenance: Old French collection. A rar...

Relief fragment representing Buddha standing beside a column, his right hand holding his robe, his left hand in blessing posture, with a worshipper kneeling in front of him. Grey schist. Graeco-Buddhist art, Gandhara period, 1st to 3rd century. Height: 17 cm. Mounted on a plexi stand. Good condition. Provenance: Christie's Amsterdam auction sale 1993.

Fragmentary relief delicately carved to represent a group of three characters, on the left side a yakshi in a niche standing in tribangha posture and holding a palm in her right hand and on the right side two superimposed partly missing characters. Grey schist. Graeco-Buddhist art, Gandhara period, ca. 3rd century. Height: 14 cm. The relief is nicely mounted on a custom plexi stand.

Fragmentary relief representing two standing bearded men, with a column, or pilaster, between them. Grey schist. Gandhara Civilisation period, ca. 2nd century. Height: 15,8 cm. The relief is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Very good condition.

Statue of a snarling lion holding a smaller lion under its front paws, resting on a rectangular base. Bronze, with fine dark green patina with reddish areas. China, Ming Dynasty. Length: 6.7 cm. Height: 5.7 cm. Very good condition.

Mask of the "Nuo" esoteric theater representing the character of Bao Gong, or Judge Bao, also named "King of Inferno" because he also goes down to visit the Inferno to inquire about the souls. The mask was carved on wood on which lacquer and polychrome pigments were painted. China, mid-19th century. Height: 12 1/4" (30,5 cm). Old insect damage (no more danger), otherwise good condition.

Finely cast statue of Bodhisattva Manjusri, in formal attire, his face showing a half smile, sitting in "rajalila asana" on a chimera or highly stylized lion, both resting on an elevated lotus throne. China, Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Height: 9 1/8" (23,3 cm). Iron, with partly encrusted patina. Obvious signs of great age, strong oxydization in some areas, otherwise very good condition. A very fine statue. NOTE: "rajalila asana" is the king's posture. It is sometimes used on bodhisattvas statues....

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.

Small Buddhist stupa mounted on an elephant. The stupa is composed of three parts which were carved separately from chlorite. Graeco-Buddhist art, Gandhara, ca. 3rd century. Height: 13.7 cm. Several chips, otherwise very good condition. A rare piece.

Very old wood statue of Buddhist goddess Sho Kannon Bosatsu (one of the many forms of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara), wearing formal robes, and a diadem with bronze decorations on the two sides, standing on a lotus, her left hand holding a vase, her right hand in abhaya mudra. The goddess face reflects a profound meditation. Remnants of the original gilding. Fine age patina. Japan, early Edo period. Height: 25.2 cm. Good condition.

Realistic and superbly cast statue of a Taoist dignitary, standing in formal attire, holding an archaic vessel with both hands, with a slight smile on his face. Bronze, encrusted patina, traces of gilding in some recesses. China, Qing Dynasty, early 18th century, probably earlier. Height: 7" (17,7 cm). Old dent on the upper part of the back, otherwise very good condition. A rare piece.

Finely cast vajra, or "dorje", with five prongs of which four are coming out of "makara" (water dragons) mouths, and the classic double lotus shaped center. Bronze, nice green patina. Tibet, 18th century.Length: 4 7/16" (11,3 cm). Very good condition.

Tibetan snuff bottle of flat shape made of silver with a lavish embossed decor representing Tibetan Tantric Budhism deities, fistly Acala, one of the eight Dharmapalas holding a sword in his right hand on one side, and secondly one of the Dakinis on the other side. Each deity is gilt and backed by a flaming aureola surrounded by a floral design. Other parts of the bottle are partly gilt. The bottle also shows coral and turquoise inserts. The stopper is partly gilt and is decorated with a stylise...

A fine Noh mask, with strong features, representing the character of Ayakashi, the malign aspect of a general killed in battle. Wood, with polychrome and gold painting, eyes made of brass. The mask is signed. Japan, early 20th century. Height: 21.7 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Very good condition. NOTE: The name "Ayakashi" also refers to an apparition with mysterious spiritual powers, or a vengeful sea-dwelling spirit. Perhaps the best known Noh play using Ayakashi is ""Fun...

Noh theater wood mask representing the character of Shakumi, a middle-aged woman. The loose strands of hair give her the careworn air of one who has suffered and survived countless trials. Note the slight sag to her cheeks and the creases on either side of her mouth. She often appears in the role of a mother. Japan, early 20th century. Height: 21 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. A few signs of use, otherwise very good condition.

Very rare and old mask, finely carved to represent Hanuman, half monkey half god, the deified hero of the famous Ramayana epic, with a vivid expression. Wood, with remnants of polychromy. Bhutan/Arunchal Pradesh, early 19th century. Height: 20.8 cm. Nicely mounted on a custom stand. Old insect infestation (no more danger), small crack at chin level, otherwise 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...

Citipati mask made of gilt embossed copper. Tibet, early 19th century. Height: 18.7 cm. Width: 22.2 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Obvious signs of age, otherwise good condition.

Large mask, of fierce expression, with protruding forehead and nose, and large, pierced through eyes, nostrils and mouth. The mask is covered with numerous small holes around the eyebrows, under the nose and around the chin, in which animal hair has been inserted and glued with wax. Wood, with dark-brown, sometimes encrusted, patina. Asia, Himalayan Region , 18th century, maybe earlier. Height: 14 1/2" (36 cm). The mask is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand which enhances its strange beauty....

Household protection mask, flat, of squarish shape, with rounded forehead incised with stylized hair design, very small incised highly stylized ears, small pierced through round eyes, long nose, rectangular pierced through mouth showing teeth, roundish short chin. Wood, with partly encrusted brown patina. Himalayan Region, early 19th century, probably earlier. Height: 11 3/4" (29,7 cm). The mask is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand which enhances its strange beauty. Erosion at base of chin,...

Head of a lohan (or arhat), its striking expression reflecting a profound inner happiness, with a third eye appearing on its forehead. Terracotta, with a plaster coating on which a white (for the whole face and neck), dark (for the eyebrows), and red (for the lips and mouth) pigment is applied. China, Ming Dynasty Period, maybe earlier. Height: 9" (23 cm). The head is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Some and small flaking on forehead and top of head, old and fine restoration at the base ...

Statue of Buddha, wearing diadem, his hands in "bhumisparsa mudra", sitting cross-legged on a lotus throne. Alabaster. Burma, 17th century. Height: 7 3/4" (19,7 cm). The piece is nicely mounted on a custom wood stand. Erosion due to great age, otherwise good condition. NOTE: originally, the statue was probably located in a niche. Provenance: old European collection.

Rare "Mbangu" deformity mask, showing a distorted face. Wood, with traces of black and white pigments. Africa, Gabon, Pende Peoples. Height: 12" (30 cm). The mask is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Old accident restored locally, chips, age cracks, otherwise good condition. NOTE: Representations of distorted faces are rare in African art. They symbolize the effects of epileptic crisis, which are supposed to be a manifestation of the spirits. The use of black and white pigments enhances th...

Head of a lohan (or "arhat"), one of the 18 disciples of Buddha, wearing mustache and goatee, his face displaying a severe expression. Wood, with remnants of the original plastering (used to support a former polychrome painting, now gone), Eyes made of black glass. China, early 18th century, probably earlier. Height: 12" (30 cm). The head is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Some chips, otherwise very good condition.

Funeral mask in the shape of a skull, with a protruding tongue. Eroded wood, traces of lichen on some areas. Indonesia, Borneo Island, Bahau Dayak ethnic group. Height: 32 cm. he mask is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Obvious signs of great age, old accidents, otherwise good condition. A rare piece.

Statue of Buddha sitting on a double lotus throne, his hands in "bhumisparsa mudra". At the center front and back of the throne, a small niche contains a relief representing what seems to be a Green Tara in regal repose posture. Inscription at the bottom of the front of the throne. Bronze with green and reddish patina. Laos, early 18th century, maybe earlier. Height: 6 3/16" (15,7 cm). Very good condition.

Architectural element which was probably the top part of a household altar. This element --- which represents a protecting ancestor head surmounted by a symbolic coiffe --- is resting on a squarish base. The piece is made of wood with a nice age patina. Indonesia, Leti Island. Height: 57 cm. Partial loss on the top, erosion, otherwise very good condition. Provenance: old French provincial collection. IMPORTANT: owing to the size and weight of the piece, please consult us on the shipping cost. ...

Mokkogate samurai sword guard (tsuba) made of shibuishi with gold inserts, with katakiri decor representing on one side a monk sitting and holding a brush and surrounded by clouds and on the other side a dragon emerging from clouds. The tsuba is signed. Japan, Edo Period, 18th/19th century. Diameter: 6.7 cm. the tsuba is offered in its original box. Very good condition. Provenance: Old Canadian collection. Auction sale Tajan, in Paris, December 14th 2015.

Mirror finely cast in the shape of a flaming "triratna", its stand framed by two small "apsaras". Bronze, with nice green and red patina. Traces of "tika" on some areas. Nepal, 18th century. Height: 20 cm. Erosion due to age, otherwise very good condition.

Statue of Jambhala, also known as Kubera or Vaishravana, wearing necklace, dhoti and diadem, sitting on a double lotus throne, holding the mongoose that spits jewels in his left hand and a currency in his right hand. The statue may have had a mandorla affixed at its back in the past. Bronze, with green and reddish patina particularly under the statue. Tibet, early 19th century. Height: 7 cm. Very good condition. NOTE: Kubera is the Tibetan God of Wealth and Prosperity.

Finely carved chief sceptre with a genie sitting on its top, surmounting a squatting ancestor, under which are geometric relief designs leading to the lower part. Wood, with nice glossy patina. Old porcelain ball attached with a small cotton rope to the top of the genie's head. Indonesia, Borneo Island, Dayak ethnic group. Height: 38,.5 cm. The piece is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Very good condition. A rare piece.

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.