Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent (154)

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.

Statue of Hindu god Indra, wearing a diadem, large earrings and a loin cloth, sitting in a variation of the virasana posture. He has the typical third eye on his forehead. His face reflects a profound inner serenity. The statue is made of gilt bronze, with a nice age patina and remnants of ritual material on the face. Nepal, early 19th century. Height: 24.5 cm. Old encrustations, otherwise very good condition.

Head of Bhairava with a fierce expression, wearing a crown of skulls, with flying hair. A small opening in the mouth allowed the insertion of a pipe (now gone), through which consecrated beer was flowing. Two loops at the back for attachment. Wood, with traces of red ritual material. Nepal, 19th century, maybe earlier. Height: 13" (33 cm). The head is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. 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...

Three Tantric paintings on paper representing various celestial beings in the Tibetan Tantric Buddhism. On the first painting are shown a cross-legged character holding a staff, surrounded by clouds and riding a chimera, and below, a group of four female characters. On the second painting, a male character riding a horse and holding a lotus, and below a female character in formal attire...

Shaman's bracelet used during rituals meant to favor crops. Tha bracelet is decorated with two stylised men, each standing behind a plough drawn by two oxen. The rest of the decor consists in stylised plants and a circle (the sun?). The bracelet is made of bronze, with a beautiful patina. Himalayan Region, early 19th century, probably earlier. Inside diameter: around 8 cm. Very good condition. A very rare piece.

Finely cast statue of bodhisattva Shadakshari Lokeshvara, sitting on a double lotus throne, wearing diadem and formal attire with jewels, with his four arms, two in front in praying posture, the other two on the sides with left hand holding a lotus and right hand holding a necklace. Copper, with nice age patina. Tibet, early 19th century. Height: 8.7 cm. Very good condition.

Altar dedicated to Hanuman, the Hindu semi-god, carved in openwork relief to represent Hanuman standing with a martial attitude, carrying a club in his left hand and an uprooted tree in his right hand, and trampling a supine figure, probably a demon. Marble, with traces of red pigments. India, 18th century. Height: 13.7 cm. Abrasion due to age, otherwise very good condition.

Very old mask with an elongated face, with moon and sun signs in relief on the forehead, small eyes, long nose, open mouth showing teeth. Wood, with encrusted patina. Nepal, 18th century. Height: 10 1/4" (26,2 cm). The mask is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Old accident from top to bottom restored locally a long time ago, otherwise good condition. Ex. old European collection.

Architectural element carved in the shape of a Hindu deity head wearing a formal cap. Nicely patinated wood, with old carpenter nails still inserted in some areas. India, early 18th century. Height: 26 cm. The piece is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Abrasion due to great age, partly chipped nose, otherwise good condition.

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.

Architectural element carved in the shape of a water dragon ("makara"). Wood, with fine dark-brown patina. Nepal, 18th century or earlier. Length: 14 1/4" (36 cm); The piece is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. A few chips, otherwise very good condition.

Superbly cast bird perch, of curved shape, with two dragon heads and two bird heads in the round. Bronze, with fine greenish patina. Himalayan Region, 18th century. Dimensions: length: 3 3/4" (9,5 cm), height: 2 7/8" (7,3 cm). Excellent condition. A rare and fine piece. Collected In Nepal in 1974 by its former owner.

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.

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.

Jeweler's mould, used to make gold or silver jewelry, decorated in relief inside to represent a dancing Hindu female deity ("deva"). Bronze with nice green and reddish patina. India, early 18th century. Diameter: 2 4/8" (6,7 cm). Very good condition.

Statue of a guardian, with a large mustache, wearing a turban --- suggesting that the man belongs to the Sikh community --- and a uniform. Wood, with strong abrasion due to great age. India, 18th/19th century. Height: 37 cm. The statue is mounted on a custom stand. Arms and feet missing, otherwise good condition.

Very old and important grotesque mask, with an accentuated grinning expression. Wood, traces of black pigments. Himalayan Region, Arunachal Pradesh, Monpa Sherdukpen Peoples, 18th century, probably earlier. Height: 11 1/8" (28 cm). The mask is mounted on a custom wood stand. Strong erosion, old insect infestation (no danger), otherwise good condition. Provenance: old American collection.

Small mask representing the face of a "lakhe", an celestial entity which protects humans and households against evil spirits. Wood, with beautiful dark patina. Himalayan Region, 18th century. Height: 5 1/4" (13,5 cm). The mask is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Old restoration at the back of the right eye, erosion due to age, otherwise very good condition. A rare piece in this size.

Statue of Hindu goddess Shridevi, one of the two consorts ("shakti") of god Vishnu, standing on an elevated square base, holding a lotus flower in her left hand. Bronze, with fine patina. India, 18th century. Height: 6.2 cm. Some abrasion due to age, otherwise very good condition.

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.

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.

Architectural element, of triangular form, finely carved in relief to represent a celestial being, half chimera half human, carrying a banner and surrounded by clouds. Wood, age patina. Nepal, 18th century. Length: 36.5 cm. Nicely mounted on a custom stand. Good condition.

Miniature altar representing Hindu god Shiva and his wife Parvati, standing, and backed by a mandorla. Bronze, with strong abrasion due to age and fine patina. India, 17th/18th century. Height: 83 mm. Very good condition. Provenance: old Berlin collection.

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...

Superbly cast bird perch, of curved shape, with four dragon heads in the round. Bronze, with fine greenish patina. Himalayan Region, 18th century. Dimensions: length: 3 5/8" (9 cm), height: 3 1/8" (8 cm). Excellent condition. A rare and fine piece. Collected in Nepal in 1974 by its former owner.

Statue of Buddha Amithaba or Amitayus, wearing an unusual diadem, jewelry and dhoti, sitting cross-legged on an elevated throne backed by a flaming mandorla, holding the elixir of immortality in his hands. Bronze, with a fine reddish-green patina. This statue is a Sino-Tibetan work, dating late 18th century/early 19th century. Height: 18.5 cm. Very good condition. Provenance: acquired from a Hong Kong antique dealer in 1978.

Statue of HIndu God Krishna as a playing baby. Bronze, with fine green patina with reddish spots. India, 18th century. Height: 3 3/8" (8,5 cm), length: 3 3/8" (8,5 cm). It seems that the eyes were made of silver pieces affixed to the face, but that they are missing now, leaving a red trace. Very good condition otherwise.

Statue of God Khandoba (an avatar of God Shiva), riding his horse, with his spouse Parvati on his left side, holding his sword with his right hand. Strongly eroded bronze. India, 18th century or earlier. Height: 6 1/2" (16,5 cm). Good condition.

Shamanic face mask of oval shape, with minimalistic features. Wood, traces of black resin under the nose for attachment of a mustache made of animal hair (now missing). Nice dark patina. Nepal, early 19th century, probably earlier. Height: 9 1/2" (24 cm). The mask is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Old accidents and chips, 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...

Very rare architectural element beautifully carved in the shape of a celestial being, maybe Garuda, flying and holding a vessel in his hands. Wood, with dark-brown patina. Nepal, 18th century, maybe earlier. Height: 14,5 cm. The piece is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Old insect infestation (treated, no danger), some losses, otherwise very 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...

Statue of a standing guardian lion, cast in the typical style of Newar statuary. Bronze, dark green patina with reddish areas. Nepal, 18th century. Height: 8 cm. Length: 8 cm. Old accident on the tail, otherwise very good condition.

Large mask representing the face of a Protector of the Buddhist Faith ("gompo"), with its typical terrifying expression. Wood, with beautiful dark glossy patina and traces of original polychrome pigments. Old accidents and old and local restorations on top of mask (no danger). Bhutan or Tibet, early 18th century, probably earlier. Height: 14" (35,5 cm). The mask is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. 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.