Catalog (551)

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.

A five prong vajra or dorje. Bronze, with fine reddish green patina. Japan, 18th century. Length: 13 cm. Very good condition.

A finely carved male ibeji, with typical coiffe, scarifications on the abdomen and the back, arms alongside the torso, standing on a rounded base. Wood, with nice dark brown semi glossy patina. Africa, Nigeria/Benin, Yoruba ethnic group. Height: 30 cm. Very good condition. Provenance: Old French provincial collection.

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.

Statue of a "lohan" (Buddhist holy man) standing on a tall rounded base, his hands originally holding an implement (now gone). Votive box open at the back (lid missing). Wood, with large remnants of black and red lacquering, and gilding on face and hands. China, 18th century. Height: 18" (45 cm). Obvious signs of great age, otherwise very good condition.

Statue of Zhen Wu, or Xuan Wu, the God of the North, in formal attire, sitting on a rocky throne, under which his two attributes --- the snake and the tortoise --- are hiding, his right arm resting on a chimera. Wood, with remnants of the original lacquering and gilding. Black glass eyes. China, Ming Dynasty. Height: 10 1/2" (26,7 cm). Good condition.

Small statue of Green Tara, wearing diadem, necklace and dhoti, sitting "at ease" on a double lotus throne. Her right hand holds the "cintamani", the jewel which "grants wishes or satisfies all desires". Bronze, with fine green patina in the recesses. Tibet, 16th century or earlier. Height: 3 3/8" (8,5 cm). Strong erosion due to very old age, tiny losses at the base of the throne, otherwise very good condition. NOTE: Green Tara is seen as the Buddhist protector against all dangers.

Paper fan, mounted on rib and guard flat sticks, made of wood nicely lacquered and gold painted with elaborate human, geometric and floral designs. The paper part is made of two concentric bands, richly decorated on both sides with polychrome, gold and silver hand painted miniature scenes showing different characters on various situations. The heads of the characters are painted on ivory, and their garments are made of colored silk, all glued on the paper base. A bronze, loop, on which a silk de...

A pair of square belt plaques, each with a relief decor of a musician sitting cross-legged on a small platform. Each plaque is backed by a flat unadorned plaque affixed to it by four pins, for attachment to the belt. Bronze, with large remnants of its original gilding and reddish green patina in some areas. China, Liao Dynasty Period (916-1125 A.D.). Width: 1 5/16" (3,3 cm). The pair is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Good condition. A fine and rare pair. Note: this pair is part of a set...

Rare half-mask of the esoteric Nuo theater representing a demon. Wood, with numerous perforations around the top of the forehead, above the eyes and below the nose in order to represent the hair, eyebrows and mustache. The mask was lacquered originally. It suffered an old accident which split it in two from top to bottom, but was restored a long time ago and locally with resin. Though the mask is more fragile than a mask without any accident, it is nevertheless strong enough now. The piece is ve...

Head of a moustached nobleman, wearing an elaborate turban, with an interesting mixture of Greek and Indian features. Grey schist. Pakistan, Gandhara Graeco-Buddhist period, 1st to 3rd century. The head is nicely munted on a custom stand. Height (without stand): 4 1/2" (11,4 cm). Nose and chin slightly chipped, otherwise good condition.

Dance mask,of the "zakpai" type, with typical red textile around the eyes and lips. Wood, fine dark semi-glossy patina. Eyes circled with white metal. Hair arranged in braids made of weaved rope, likewise the long beard. Teeth made of animal claws. Africa, Ivory Coast/Liberia, Dan ethnic group. Total height: 44 cm. Height of mask: 24 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a metal custom stand. Obvious signs of long use and wear, otherwise very good condition. Provenance: old French collection. NOTE...

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.

Bi faced "ghurra" (churning rod holder) finely carved to represent a back to back, squatting, human couple, man opposite woman. Wood, with nice dark brown glossy patina. The ghurra was carved in Nepal, and is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Its height (without the stand) is 22.7 cm. Very good condition. NOTE: The ghurra is a tool which has been used for centuries by Nepali people for churning milk into butter. Aside from its use as an important household implement, the ghurra also has a ...