Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas (104)

Salt box with its lid, of rectangular shape, decorated with incised geometric design on its sides, and geometric, partly in relief, design on its lid. An opening on the lid allows a spoon (now missing) to rest inside the box. Nepal, 19th century. Length: 18,7 cm. Height: 11 cm. Some erosion due to age, otherwise very good condition. Collected in Nepal in the early seventies.

Finely cast small statue of Green Tara, wearing diadem jewelry and dhoti, sitting in regal repose on a double lotus throne, her left hand holding a lotus flower. Tibet, 19the century. Height: 4 cm. Slight erosion on the gliding, otherwise very good condition.

Statue of Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, in monk's robes, sitting on a lotus throne, with a small stupa in his headdress, his hands holding a vase. The statue is made of copper, with a fine age patina. Tibet, 19th century. Height: 8.8 cm. Very good condition.

Highly unusual statue of protecting deity or ancestor, its head surmounted by a circular crown which looks like a "stupa" or a "usnisa". The protector is squatting, its hands are in praying posture. Eroded wood. West Nepal. Height: 36" (41 cm). Obvious signs of great age.

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.

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...

Head of Citipati, made of embossed bronze with gilding on the front and red painting to enhance the eyes. Fine green patina in the recesses and on the back. The head is pierced on its top and lower side to allow not to be worn on a necklace that was used by a Tibetan lama or oracle particularly during the Cham ceremonies and dances. Tibet, early 19th century. Height: 7.5 cm. Very good condition.

Highly unusual phurba lavishly decorated, from top to bottom, with stylized lotus, four deities heads separated by a pitcher and a trident, geometric design, a "makara" head with three Shiva tridents on top and snakes at the tip of the blade. Wood, with nice dark-brown semi-glossy and partly encrusted patina. An iron loop holds a piece of old textile. Nepal, early 19th century. Height: 10 3/4" (27 cm). The piece is nicely mounted o a custom metal stand...

One point vajra, which belonged to a lower rank Buddhist lama. Bronze, with two old textile wrappings to protect fingers against the power of the thunderbolt. Tibet, early 19th century. Length: 21.5 cm. Abrasion due to great age, otherwise very good condition.

Small statue of Bhairava standing on a lotus base, in an aggressive posture, holding Brahma's skull in his left hand, with his right hand raised threateningly. A demon is reclining beside his left foot. Bronze, with dark-green patina. Tibet, early 19th century, maybe earlier. Haight: 3 1/4" !8,3 cm). Lotus base slightly bent in front, otherwise very good condition.

Brush case, nicely embossed with an openwork decoration representing three stylised Buddhist vajras on either side, surrounded with a foliage and geometric design. Silver alloy, with a fine age patina. The center of each vajra must have contained a coral or turquoise to enhance the beauty of the case. The case was made in Tibet in the 19th century, maybe earlier. Length: 33.5 cm. Very good condition .

Ritual dagger ("phurpa") formerly used by a shaman during religious ceremonies. Wood, with nice dark patina. Textiles attached on top with a chain. Old restoration with a forged metal point on the lower part of the dagger. Nepal, early 19th century. Height: 13 1/4" (32,5 cm). The phurpa is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Good condition.

Old ritual dagger ("phurpa"), beautifully carved to represent, from top to bottom, a protruding animal head, three deities busts, a stylized "vajra", and finally a stylized "makara" (water dragon) head on the three-blades point. The phurpa is made of wood, with a fine dark-brown patina. Nepal, early 19th century. Height: 9 3/4" (24,8 cm). The piece is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Chips at the top and bottom of the object, otherwise good condition...

Finely cast five-point vajra (or dorje), made of bronze, with nice dark green patina. Tibet, early 19th century. Length: 12.4 cm. Very good condition.

A superb tea kettle, its body made of copper, its handle and spout made of bronze and cast in the shape of dragons. On the lid , around the neck and at the base of the spout, a silver repoussé floral decoration. A chain links the lid to the body. Tibet, 19th century. Height:10 1/4" (26 cm). Obvious signs of use and age, otherwise very good condition...

Large snuff bottle, made of silver, of circular and flat shape, lavishly decorated with animal, floral and geometric design on one side and foliage, lotus and geometric design on the other side. Tiny silver stopper at the end of a small spout on top of the bottle. Opening on one side to allow access to the tobacco powder, with relief stylised lotus decor, on one of the two sides. Fine patina. Tibet, 19th century. Height: 11 cm. Very good cndition.

Flint and tinder pouch, in the shape of an envelope made of leather with a heavy steel lower edge, and a loop on top to allow suspension from the belt. Lavish silver and brass decoration with three turquoises in the middle. Tibet, 19th century. Length: 5 3/4" (14,7 cm). Obvious signs of age, wear and use, otherwise very good condition. A rather scarce object nowadays.

Architectural element (part of a beam, or a corner), nicely carved in relief and representing Garuda, the vehicle of Hindu god Vishnu, half-bird, half-man, in his anthropomorphic appearance. Heavy wood (probably from the Southern part of Nepal), dark patina. Nepal, 19th century or earlier. Height: 13" (34 cm); The piece is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. A few chips, otherwise very good condition.