Catalog (551)

Pair of ancient paintings on cotton, with polychrome colours and gold. The first painting represents a noble man in formal attire and sitting on a throne. The second painting represents a noble lady, in formal attire, sitting on an throne . Sizes 95 X 49 cm for both paintings. Very fine details and delicate rendering of faces and textiles. China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century. Acquired from a Hong Kong antique dealer in 1987.

Pair of ancient paintings on paper, with polychrome colours and gold. The first painting represents a noble lady, in formal attire, sittings on an elevated platform. Two characters are painted at the back. This painting is partly folded, the paper is stained due to age and has suffered three insect attacks. The second painting represents a noble man in formal attire and sitting on an elevated platform. Two characters are painted at the back. This painting has suffered three insect attacks and th...

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...

A fine pair of gilt bronze appliques, possibly belt or harness fittings, of square shape, with well cast relief decorations of musicians sitting cross-legged and playing the flute and what seems to be a lute. China, Liao Dynasty (916-1125). Height:3.1 cm. Very good condition.

A pair of important books on Samurai, their history, fighting techniques, armour and weapons. The first book is "Secrets of the Samurai" published in 1973 by Charles E. Tuttle Company Inc. of Rutland, Vermont, USA. This book is a definitive study of the martial arts of feudal Japan, illustrating in detail the weapons, tecfhniques, strategies and principles of combat that made the Japanese warriors a terrible foe. Profusely illustrated in 464 pages, this study provides and insight into the variou...

A pair of blue and white Chinese Qing Dynasty plates. The smallest one has a 24 cm diameter, and is decorated inside with a geometric design at the center surrounded by a floral decor and a series of three concentric symbols going towards the rim, the potter's mark behind, and a very good condition. The larger one has a 28.2 cm diameter, with a large character in the middle surrounded by four concentric symbols going towards the rim and, at the back, four stylised "shou" characters around the bo...

Terracotta votive plate depicting six seated Buddhist deities surmounting four smaller ones. Thailand, Khmer period known as Lopburi, 12-14th century. 91 mm high x 68 mm wide x 17 mm thick. The plate is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Abrasion due to great age, otherwise very good condition.

Small figurine finely cast in the shape of a human being in a crouching posture, with horn shaped hairdo. Bronze, with reddish-green patina. This particular object appears to be the support of a large bronze base, as shown on a picture of similar objects exhibited at the National Historical Museum in Beijing (cat. Bronzes, NHM, Beijing, 1995, no. 1037, p. 287), which we show on our last photograph. The piece dates back to the Warring States period (475-221 BC). Length: 4.4 cm. Height: 5.2 cm. Ve...

Finely carved dance crest representing a female bust with an elaborate coiffe. Wood, with glossy dark-brown patina. Africa, Nigeria, Idoma Peoples. Height: 11 1/8" (28,2 cm). The piece is nicely mounted on a custom bronze stand. Old insect infestation (no danger), otherwise very good condition. Ex. old French collection.

Very old face mask, of oval form, with minimalist cubistic features typical of this area. Strongly eroded wood, age patina. Indonesia, Timor island. Height: 31 cm. Mounted on a custom stand. Provenance: acquired in situ early 20th century, ex old Dutch collection.

Very old wood statue of Buddhist goddess Sho Kannon Bosatsu (one of the many forms of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara), wearing formal robes, and a diadem with bronze decorations on the two sides, standing on a lotus, her left hand holding a vase, her right hand in abhaya mudra. The goddess face reflects a profound meditation. Remnants of the original gilding. Fine age patina. Japan, early Edo period. Height: 25.2 cm. Good condition.

Statue of a sitting protector, with squarish features, his hands in praying posture. Strongly eroded wood, with remnants of kaolin on some areas. Nepal, 19th C. Height: 39 cm. The statue is mounted on a custom stand. NOTE: collected in 1974 by its former owner.

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.

Rhyton, of conical shape, decorated at its base with the bust of a ram. Geometric design incised all over the body of the object. Bronze, with fine reddish-green age patina and traces of soil encrustations. Bactrian Civilisation, ca. 4th century B.C. Height: 15.3 cm. The piece is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Very good condition.

Intricately carved mask for the Nuo esoteric theater, representing the legendary character of Bao Gong, or Judge Bao, wearing a formal hat, his face in relief with a fierce expression, with bulging eyes, open mouth revealing fangs, and a stylised beard. Wood, with traces of the original polychrome colouring. China, 18th century. Height: 29.6 cm. Very good condition despite signs of old insect infestation (no danger).

A very fine mask of the esoteric "Nuo" theater, representing the character of Tudigong, the God of the Soil and of the Cereals, wearing an official cap, his face illuminated by a large smile. Wood, with traces of polychrome colors under the black coating. China, early 20th century. Height: 23.7 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Very good condition.

Large mask representing the face of Mahakala with its typical terrifying expression, the features being carved in relief and the mouth in openwork showing teeth . At the top of the back of the head a small cylinder has been carved on a small platform. This cylinder was meant to contain a horse hair (often of white coulour), to decorate the mask. Wood, with obvious signs of great age and remains of woodworm attack (no more danger). Old accidents and old and local restorations on top of mask. Bhut...

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.