Catalog: Antiques (463)

Superb sutra book (Kammavaca) made of two book covers made of teak wood and 16 pages made of palm wood. The pages are written recto/verso, in Pali script lacquered with black tamarind seed on a gilt background and illuminations. The two covers are with red drawings representing celestial beings on a gilt background. Burma, early 19th century. Dimensions: length: 62 cm, height: 12 cm. Some signs of wear and use, tiny chip on one page (see photo), 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.

Statue of a taoist dignitary, in formal attire, standing with a martial posture on an elevated base. Votive box still closed at the back. Wood, with remnants of superimposed layers of polychrome and gold painting. China, 19th century. Height: 13 " (32,5 cm). Left hand partly chipped, old insect infestation (no more danger), otherwise good condition.

Old ritual dagger ("phurpa"), beautifully carved to represent, from top to bottom, a protruding animal head, three deities busts, a stylized "vajra", and finally a stylized "makara" (water dragon) head on the three-blades point. The phurpa is made of wood, with a fine dark-brown patina. Nepal, early 19th century. Height: 9 3/4" (24,8 cm). The piece is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Chips at the top and bottom of the object, otherwise good condition...

Very old agate snuff bottle with of beige color with nice white inclusions in some areas. Silvered bronze stopper with large turquoise inlay, copper spoon. China, early 19th century, maybe earlier. Height (without stopper): 2 6/16" (5,8 cm). Very good condition.

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.

Wood mask, with strong features, of a Mahakala. Dark brown glossy patina. Bhutan, 19th century. Height: 28.5 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Very good condition. NOTE: collected in Nepal in 1978.

Large wood stand of circular shape resting on five feet. The stand was carved from a unique piece of high quality wood. China, Qing dynasty; 19th century. Inside diameter: 15 cm. Height: 7 cm. Tiny crack around the rim, otherwise very good condition

Lime box of rectangular shape, with its lid, and four compartments also with lids. Bronze, with fine silver inserts representing floral and geometric designs. Islamic art, early 19th century. Length: 14.7 cm. Height: 7.3 cm. Silver inserts partly missing and some erosion due to age, otherwise very good condition. NOTE: this pice was collected in 1979 in Mindanao island, south of the Philippines archipelago...

Rare, unusual in this form, Himalayan shamanic mask, with eyes and mouth wide open, expressive features. This mask is strangely similar in aspect to antique Greek theater masks, though there is no known connection between both areas. The mask is made of wood, with a very fine dark brown glossy patina and obvious signs of great age, with traces of the oritginal colouring. Period: 19th century. Height: 29.5 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Good condition...

Flint and tinder pouch, in the shape of an envelope made of leather with a heavy steel lower edge, and a loop on top to allow suspension from the belt. Lavish silver and brass decoration with three turquoises in the middle. Tibet, 19th century. Length: 5 3/4" (14,7 cm). Obvious signs of age, wear and use, otherwise very good condition. A rather scarce object nowadays.

Finely cast five-point vajra (or dorje), made of bronze, with nice dark green patina. Tibet, early 19th century. Length: 12.4 cm. Very good condition.

Nicely carved statue of Hindu god Vitthal, standing, wearing formal attire and jewelry, arms akimbo. Wood, with fine glossy dark brown patina. India, early 19th century. Height: 25.7 cm. the statue is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Left and front lower side partly missing, slight abrasion, otherwise good condition. NOTE: Vithoba, also known as Vitthala, is a Hindu god predominantly worshipped in the Indian state of Maharashtra and Karnataka. He is a form of the god Vishnu...

Porcelain vase of bulbous body and elongated neck, with a hand painted decor in blue over a white background representing a phoenix in clouds. China, Qing Dynasty, early 19th century or earlier. Height: 18,4 cm. Tiny chips around the rim and base, otherwise very good condition.

Statue of Bodhisattva Manjusri, the Budhist deity who fights ignorance, in formal attire, wearing diadem, sitting on a double lotus throne, his hands in teaching posture ("dharmachakra mudra"). Bronze, with remnants of the original lacquering and gilding. Tibet, 19th century. Height: 17.5 cm. Very good condition. IMPORTANT: owing to the heavy weight of the statue, please consult us on the shipping cost.

Gilt silver alloy Buddhist necklace. The decoration is comprising of a repousse design of Buddhas sitting in meditation posture alternating with floral designs. On the lower side similar repousse designs are affixed with loops. This necklace is similar in style to the ones which were made during the Bactriane/Gandharan period. Afghanistan, 19th century or earlier. A few losses, otherwise very good condition.

Architectural element (part of a beam, or a corner), nicely carved in relief and representing Garuda, the vehicle of Hindu god Vishnu, half-bird, half-man, in his anthropomorphic appearance. Heavy wood (probably from the Southern part of Nepal), dark patina. Nepal, 19th century or earlier. Height: 13" (34 cm); The piece is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. A few chips, otherwise very good condition.

Citipati mask made of gilt embossed copper. Tibet, early 19th century. Height: 18.7 cm. Width: 22.2 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Obvious signs of age, otherwise good condition.

Fine rectangular lime box made of bronze, decorated with numerous silver inserts representing floral and geometric designs. Inside the box are four compartments with their lids, also decorated with silver inserts showing stylised flowers. Philippines archipelago, Mindanao island, early 19th century. Dimensions: length: 9.3 cm, height: 6.1 cm. Slight abrasion due to age, otherwise very good condition. Provenance: Acquired in Luzon island in 1978.

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.

Embossed gilt copper plate, with fine details, representing a snarling snow lion, standing. Two small copper rivets above the back of the lion. Tibet, early 19th century, maybe earlier. Height: 7 cm. Length: 8.3 cm. The plate is nicely mounted on a custom wood stand. Very good condition. Collected in Nepal in 1978.

Kohl bottle of flat shape with a long neck and flat rim, resting on four legs. Bronze, with fine dark green patina. 19th century. Height: 8.5 cm. Very good condition. A rare piece.

Ivory netsuke representing a teacher sitting beside his disciple, the latter holding a book with his right hand and a "shishi lion" mask with his left hand. The netsuke is signed, also bears a small red mark, beneath. Japan, 19th century. Length: 40 mm. Height: 24 mm. Very good condition.

A superb tea kettle, its body made of copper, its handle and spout made of bronze and cast in the shape of dragons. On the lid , around the neck and at the base of the spout, a silver repoussé floral decoration. A chain links the lid to the body. Tibet, 19th century. Height:10 1/4" (26 cm). Obvious signs of use and age, otherwise very good condition...

Ancient Buddhist book of sutras comprising of two thick lacquered and gilt cardboard covers decorated with 16 Buddhas sitting on a throne with their hands in bhumisparsa mudra posture. The central Buddha is flanked by two smaller buddhas, and at their feet are two small praying monks. The book has 42 X 2 pages (written on two sides) written in black characters. Burma, 19th century...

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.

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. Kaliya's ...

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. Normally holy water is poured from the Yoni...

Very rare eating set comprising of: 1) a knife with horn handle with iron tip with gilt decor, the blade itself beautifully forged and decorated with incised lotus design on one side and inlaid gold stylized dragon on the other side; 2) a nicely shaped wood sheath covered with red colored shark skin and with a farming made of iron lavishly decorated with incised and gilt floral designs; 3) a pair of iron chopsticks; 4) three toothpicks made of iron with nice decoration on tip. This set belonged...

Small tsuba (probably meant for a wakizashi), with a decoration in rief of a bird flying over waves. Eroded and oxidized iron. Japan, mid Edo period. Height: 2 11/16" (6,7 cm). Very good condition.

Head of Citipati, made of embossed bronze with gilding on the front and red painting to enhance the eyes. Fine green patina in the recesses and on the back. The head is pierced on its top and lower side to allow not to be worn on a necklace that was used by a Tibetan lama or oracle particularly during the Cham ceremonies and dances. Tibet, early 19th century. Height: 7.5 cm. Very good condition.

Small statue of Bhairava standing on a lotus base, in an aggressive posture, holding Brahma's skull in his left hand, with his right hand raised threateningly. A demon is reclining beside his left foot. Bronze, with dark-green patina. Tibet, early 19th century, maybe earlier. Haight: 3 1/4" !8,3 cm). Lotus base slightly bent in front, otherwise very good condition.

One point vajra, which belonged to a lower rank Buddhist lama. Bronze, with two old textile wrappings to protect fingers against the power of the thunderbolt. Tibet, early 19th century. Length: 21.5 cm. Abrasion due to great age, otherwise very good condition.

Brush case, nicely embossed with an openwork decoration representing three stylised Buddhist vajras on either side, surrounded with a foliage and geometric design. Silver alloy, with a fine age patina. The center of each vajra must have contained a coral or turquoise to enhance the beauty of the case. The case was made in Tibet in the 19th century, maybe earlier. Length: 33.5 cm. Very good condition .

A very fine mask of the esoteric "Nuo" theater, representing the character of Tudigong, the God of Cereals, wearing an official cap, his face illuminated by a large smile. Wood, with polychrome colors. China, early 19th century. Height: 11" (28 cm). The mask is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Very good condition.

Very rare and old mask, finely carved to represent Hanuman, half monkey half god, the deified hero of the famous Ramayana epic, with a vivid expression. Wood, with remnants of polychromy. Bhutan/Arunchal Pradesh, early 19th century. Height: 20.8 cm. Nicely mounted on a custom stand. Old insect infestation (no more danger), small crack at chin level, otherwise good condition.