Catalog (561)

"Ancient India", Bulletin of the Archeological Survey of India, numbers 18 and 19, Years 1962 and 1963. Edited and published by the Director General of Archaeology in India, New Delhi. Printed by the Job Press Ltd., Kanpur. 8 3/8"x10 11/16" (21,5x27 cm). 250 pages. Numerous drawings, maps and photos. A series of articles on the archeology of India, Afghanistan and Pakistan, by British and Indian field experts, published in the mid forties to the early sixties. Contents described on cover (see ph...

"Marvels of Buddhist Art, Alchi-Ladakh", text by Pratapaditya Pal, photographs by Lionel Fournier. Published by Ravi Kumar Publisher. Printed by Walker Print (H.K.) Ltd. Hong Kong. This 1988 edition is limited to 1500 copies. Hard cover, dust jacket. Quarto, black cloth, gilt lettering on spine, gilt design on front board, color plates throughout. Excellent condition. Note: seen by few visitors until recently, the monastic complex of Alchi, nestled in a beautiful valley in the Ladakh Himalayas...

"Buddhist Book Illuminations", by Pratapaditya Pal and Julia Meech-Pekarik. Published by Ravi Kumar Publishers. Printed by Walker Print (Far East) Ltd. Hong Kong. This 1988 edition is limited to 400 copies. This copy is number 161. 339 pages. Hard cover in slipcase. Large quarto, red cloth, gilt lettering on spine, gilt design on front board, numerous illustrations in black and white (130) and in color (108). Excellent condition. Note 1: Handwritten and hand-printed, books have played an impor...

"Indian Art". Edited by Sir Richard Winstedt. Essays by H.G. Rawlinson, K. de B. Codrington, J.V.S. Wilkinson and John Irwin. Published by October House Inc. New York, 1967. Green cloth hardcover, dust jacket. 5 5/8"x8 1/8" (14,5x21 cm). 200 pages. Contents on photo no 1. A few illustrations in the text, photos at the end. Used and worn, but very good condition inside.

"An Introduction to Tantric Buddhism" by Shashi Bhushan Dasgupta, M.A., Ph.D., Professor Calcutta University. Printed and published by the University of Calcutta, 1958. Hardcover. 6 1/2"x9 7/8" (16x25 cm). 211 pages. Ex libris professor David M. Miller, Harvard University, 1964. Worn and used, otherwise good condition.

Small bowl of rounded shape, carved decoration of stylized lotus petals outside, with a short footring. Celadon, rather thick ceramic, with traces of light brown colour coming from a long stay underground. China, Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Diameter: 5 3/8" (13,5 cm), height: 1 7/8" (4,8 cm). Slight glaze erosion in some areas around the rim, small chips at base, shape slightly warped, otherwise very good condition.

Small statue of a Zen master, in monk's robes, in praying posture, sitting cross-legged on an elevated rectangular platform. Lacquered and gilt wood. Japan, 19th century. Height: 4 6/8" (12 cm). Lacquering and gilding flaked in some areas, otherwise very good condition. NOTE: the statue may represent Nichiren-shonin (most probably), or Kobo-daishi, but we have not been able to identify it precisely.

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 ...

Round shaped beer jug, resting on rectangular flaring base. Iron, with a brass frame around the sides and the base. Traces of original gilding in the center. Central recessed area shows a "shou" incised symbol. This area is surrounded by incised foliate design on the jug body. Tibet, 19th century, maybe earlier. Height: 14 1/2" (36,5 cm). Heavy oxydization, frame partly missing around base (see photo), a few dents, otherwise good condition.

Reliquary figure carved in the shape of a standing female, with typical coiffe, serene face with scarifications on forehead, conical breasts, hands joined at abdomen level. The statue is resting on a large wood lid, on which it is affixed with soil material. The reliquary box itself is missing. Wood, with partly encrusted dark patina. Africa, Gabon, Punu Peoples. Height: 18 3/4" (47 cm). Obvious signs of use and age, otherwise very good condition. NOTE: like the Fang Peoples, the Punu used to ...

Nuo theater mask representing the smiling Tudigong, the god of the soil and of cereals in ancient Chinese mythology, wearing a formal cap. Wood, with traces of lacquer, fine dark patina. China, early 19th century, maybe older. Height: 11 1/4" (28,5 cm). The mask is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Old local restorations from top to bottom, otherwise 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.

Beautiful 4-string lute ("saranghi"), the top in the shape of a head holds the four keys, the body itself is made of two parts of heart shape. Wood, with nice dark-brown glossy patina. The lower part is covered with animal skin affixed with tiny wood pegs. Himalaya, 19th century. Height: 22 1/4" (55,6 cm). The lute is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Obvious signs of use and age, otherwise very good condition. NOTE: this piece was collected in the early 1970s, during my 20 year stay in As...

Repousse plaque representing Hindu God Vishnu, wearing a diadem and dhoti, standing on a lotus, holding his attributes in his four arms. Brass, with nice reddish-green patina. Nepal, 17th/18th century. Height: 9" (22,5 cm). Very good condition despite obvious signs of great age.

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.

Face mask, with a cylindrical coiffe presenting a small relief in its middle of what seems to be a head and raised arms surrounded by geometric design, with a protruding forehead, pierced through sunken eyes, long nose in relief, pierced through mouth showing teeth, long chin. Wood, with remnants of polychrome pigments, aged patina. China, Yao ethnic group, early 20th century. Height: 12 1/2" (32 cm). The mask is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Obvious signs of great age, strong erosion,...

Small architectural element, probably part of a tympanum ("torana") of a temple or palace door, of circular shape, carved in relief to represent the Hindu mythical bird Garuda head, flanked with wings, holding the Naga snake in its claws. Wood, with dark-brown encrusted patina. Remnants of red pigment (tika?) on various areas. Mortises at top and bottom sides. Nepal, 17th century, probably earlier. Length: 13 1/4" (34 cm). The piece is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Obvious signs of gre...

Rare and unusual statue of Vairocana Buddha, wearing diadem and monk's robes, sitting on an elevated lotus throne, his right hand in "abhaya mudra", his left hand resting on his lap, in didactic gesture. The front bottom side of the throne shows two small assistants (maybe Buddha's two companions, Ananda and Kasyapa) in relief, sitting in "regal repose". The back of the throne is incised with a long inscription (datation). Bronze, with fine encrusted green patina. China, early Ming Dynasty, prob...