Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: India (44)

Old tribal necklace, made of old red and yellow glass beads and small bronze bells, with a bronze ornament in the shape of three heads to indicate head-taking status. North East India, Naga ethnic group. Length: around 37 cm. Very good condition. Provenance: 1) old European collection, 2) auction sale.

Statue of Hanuman, the Monkey Gos, hero of the Ramayana epic, in formal attire, standing on a rectangular pedestal, his hands in praying posture. The statue and the pedestal were cast separately. The statue may thus be removed from the pedestal. Bronze, with fine dark-green patina. India, 19th century. Height: 4 5/8" (11,7 cm). Good condition.

Old tribal necklace, made of old glass beads of various colours with a bronze ornament in the shape of a double fish tail. North East India, Naga ethnic group. Length: around 34 cm. Very good condition. Provenance: 1) old European collection, 2) auction sale.

Old tribal necklace, made of old glass beads with a bronze ornament in the shape of a fish tail. North East India, Naga ethnic group. Length: around 37 cm. Very good condition. Provenance: 1) old European collection, 2) auction sale.

Old tribal necklace made of twenty strands of old glass beads of various colours. North East India, Naga ethnic group. Length: around 29 cm. Very good condition. Provenance: 1) old European collection 2) auction sale.

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.

Ancient mask, beautifully carved in heavy wood, with realistic features, representing the face of a snarling tiger. Wood, with remnants of the handpainted polychrome decoration. India, Gujarat or Maharashtra, Kukana tribes, early 20th century. Height: 27 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Old accident at lower jaw, very well restored locally. Acquired in 1974.

Small altar comprising of a statue of Green Tara sitting in regal repose on a lion, with a small statue of a worshipper on her lower right side, the whole group surmounting an elevated throne on four legs with, at the back, a large mandorla on the upper side of which stands a small Buddha in relief. Ancient inscription at the back of the mandorla (see photo). Bronze, with green and reddish patina in the recesses. India, 16th century or earlier. Height: 5 1/8" (13,4 cm)...

Statue of Hindu goddess Durga, standing on a circular base, with her multiple arms, killing the demons. Bronze, with fine age patina. India, 15th/16th century. Height: 10.2 cm. Right hand missing, abrasion due to great age, otherwise very good condition

Wooden ornament, carved in relief on wood, representing Hindu god Kartikeya, with six heads, holding a spear in his right hand, riding his peacock, in a niche, flanked by two other niches in which are shown his two wives, Devasena and Valli. The two other niches are surmounted each by a kala makara (dragon) head. The whole scene is resting on two feet, each decorated in relief with a foliage design. India, 19th century, maybe earlier. Height: 49 cm...

Relief fragment in the shape of a Hindu deity head, the face reflecting a serene and slightly smiling expression. Sandstone. India, Ca. 15th century. Height: 6 1/2" (16,5 cm). The piece is mounted on a custom stand. Erosion due to great age, chipped nose, otherwise good condition.

A set of three 19th century Indian jeweler's moulds, made of bronze, each one representing a Hindu deity. The first one shows a female deity, maybe Sarasvati, with four arms, holding her four attributes in her hands, riding a horse and surrounded by foliage. An inscription is incised at the back of the mould. Height: 6.3 cm. The second mould shows god Khandoba (a form of Shiva), holding a sword, riding a horse together with his wife, and accompanied by a dog running under the horse...

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...

Statue of Krishna dancing on the head of the Kaliya Snake, on an elevated square base, holding a butter ball in his right hand. Bronze, with fine dark green patina. India, early 19th century. Height: 6,4 cm. Abrasion due to age, otherwise very good condition. NOTE: this statue refers to Krishna's adolescence. The Kaliya snake had poisoned the pool in which cow herds were drinking. Krishna revived the cows and had a fight with Kaliya, kicked it almost to death, and then danced on him...

Large and intricately created old tribal necklace, made of old glass beads of various colours and sizes, with bone separates and bronze tiny bronze bells. North East India, Naga ethnic group. Length: around 64 cm. Very good condition. Provenance: 1) old European collection, 2) auction sale.