Catalog: Antiques (461)

Small Hindu altar representing a female deity sitting on a platform backed by an arch. Bronze, with fine green patina. India, 19th century. Height: 4 1/8" (10,5 cm). The piece is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Very good condition.

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.

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...

Architectural element with an unusual decoration representing a bird with a human head. Wood, fine age patina. India, early 19th century, maybe earlier. Height: 18.8 cm. Very good condition. A rare piece.

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 .

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...

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...

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...

Ritual dagger ("phurpa") formerly used by a shaman during religious ceremonies. Wood, with nice dark patina. Textiles attached on top with a chain. Old restoration with a forged metal point on the lower part of the dagger. Nepal, early 19th century. Height: 13 1/4" (32,5 cm). The phurpa is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Good condition.

Statue of a Taoist deity ("fashi"), in formal attire, sitting on a throne, holding his commandment baton in his right hand and a bowl containing the lustral water in his left. Wood, coated with traces of polychrome painting. Votive box at the back, lid missing. China, early 19th century, maybe earlier. Height: 20.7 cm. Abrasion due to age otherwise 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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

Finely carved mask representing a demon, with expressive features, a protruding forehead bearing a third eye, protruding eyes, beaked nose, open mouth showing teeth. Wood, with remnants of polychrome painting. China, Qing Dynasty, early 19th century or earlier. Height: 23 cm. The mask,is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Old accidents and insect infestations (no danger), otherwise good condition. A very rare piece.

Ritual dagger ("phurpa") formerly used by a shaman during ceremonies. The phurpa is made of wood, and is decorated in relief from top to bottom with three deities heads surmounted by a point, above geometric designs of chevrons and knots, themselves on top of the three blades decorated with snake design in relief. Nice dark-brown glossy patina. Several textile knots are affixed on the handle to "protect" the shaman's fingers from the magic strength of the phurpa. Nepal, 19th century...

Statue of a traditional god, probably representing Kuan Ti or Kuan Yu, God of War, in formal garb, with a martial posture, sitting on a throne. Wood, with traces of the original gilding. Remnants of animal hair under nose and chin, to represent mustache and beard. At the back of the statue, the votive box is till closed. China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century. Height: 22.7 cm. Abrasion due to age, right arm partly missing, otherwise good condition.