Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art (458)

Head of Buddha, eyes half closed, its face reflecting a profound inner serenity. Wood, with remnants of the original lacquering and gilding. China, 18th century. Height: 10 1/2" (26,7 cm). The head is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Age cracks, otherwise good condition.

Architectural element carved in the shape of a water dragon ("makara"). Wood, with fine dark-brown patina. Nepal, 18th century or earlier. Length: 14 1/4" (36 cm); The piece is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. A few chips, otherwise very good condition.

Statue of a Taoist deity --- maybe a judge in Hell --- in mandarin attire, sitting on a throne, his hands in praying posture. Lacquered and gilt wood. China, Qing dynasty, 18th century. Height: 20.2 cm. Old woodworm attacks (no more danger) lacquering and gilding partly flaked, otherwise very good condition.

Netsuke nicely carved to represent a man standing with a slightly mischievous expression and posture. Ivory, with a fine age patina. Japan, mid Edo Period. Height: 5.9 cm. Minute age cracks (absolutely no damage), slight erosion, otherwise very good condition.

Snuff bottle of almost globular form, made of two sections carved from burl which has then been lacquered in black. The bottle has a silver neck and a silver circular frame holding the two sections together. It also has an opening with round silver repoussé mount with geometric design at one side, the lid ending in a coral top. Tibet, 18th century. Diameter: 3" (7,6 cm). Age cracks on both sides, stopper and spoon missing, otherwise good condition. Provenance: Old Parisian collection.

Large Buddhist ritual bell, with a lavish decoration of a "vajra" on its top, four deities faces below, and geometric and stylized lotus decor on its body. Bronze, with beautiful encrusted green and red patina. Traces of gilding. Indonesia, ca. 15th to 16th century. Height: 9 5/8" (24,5 cm). Obvious signs of great age, otherwise very good condition.

Miniature altar dedicated to Hindu Goddess Annapurna. The goddess is shown sitting cross-legged on a lotus throne, holding her ritual spoon on her lap, and backed by an aureola. Bronze, with traces of its original green patina. India, ca. 17th century. Height: 4.7 cm. Strong abrasion due great age, otherwise very good condition.

Rectangular shaped belt buckle beautifully carved in relief to represent a dragon "chasing the pearl". Two loops (one missing) at the back for attachment to the belt. Nicely patinated ivory. Length: 1 7/8" (4,7 cm). Erosion, a few chips, otherwise good condition.

Large and antique mask representing Bhairava, an avatar of Hindu God Shiva, with a terrifying expression. Wood, with traces of the original plastering and polychromy. Nepal, 17th century. Height: 19" (49 cm). Old accident --- the mask was split in two from top to bottom --- not very skillfully restored locally, strong erosion, otherwise good condition. A rare piece.

Jarlet or bottle, with two ring handles, carved footring with dropped base, celadon glaze on brownish body. Traces of soil encrustations in some areas. Thailand, Sawankhalok kilns, ca. 14th to mid-16th centuries. Height: 4 1/2" (11,2 cm). Very good condition.

Sutra book clasp cast in the shape of an H, with a Tibetan "dorje" (or "vajra") placed horizontally at its center. Square opening at top and bottom for attachment. Bronze, with partly encrusted greenish patina. Tibet, 17th century, maybe earlier. Height: 1 5/8" (4,2 cm). The piece is nicely mounted on a custom wood stand. Erosion due to great age, otherwise good condition. Note: such implement was used to lock the straps that kept a "sutra" book (a book containing Buddhist texts) closed.

Statue of Kuan Yin, wearing diadem and formal dress, holding a lotus bud in her right hand, sitting in "regal repose" on a elevated double lotus throne. Bronze, with fine reddish-green patina. China, Yuan/early Ming Dynasty, maybe earlier. Height: 12.9 cm. Very good condition. A rather rare piece in this form.

Earthenware offering plate depicting seven seated Buddha surmounting fine Buddhist devotees. Thailand Khmer period known as Lopburi, 12-14th century. 72 mm high x 55 mm wide x 14 mm thick. The piece is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Abrasion due to age, otherwise very good condition.

Small statue of Kuan Yin, in formal attire, sitting in "rajalila asana" (king's posture) on a highly stylized lion, itself resting on a lotus base. Bronze, with large remnants of lacquering and gold paint, nice green patina. China, early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Height: 6 1/4" (15,8 cm). Chip at the back of the base, small loss on the diadem, otherwise very good condition. A truly beautiful casting.

Small seal cast in the shape of a tortoise standing on a square base. Archaic characters beneath. Bronze, with fine green patina. China, Ming Dynasty or earlier. Height: 2 cm. Width: 2.6 cm. Very 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.

Statue of Buddha, wearing diadem, his hands in "bhumisparsa mudra", sitting cross-legged on a lotus throne. Alabaster. Burma, 17th century. Height: 7 3/4" (19,7 cm). The piece is nicely mounted on a custom wood stand. Erosion due to great age, otherwise good condition. NOTE: originally, the statue was probably located in a niche. Provenance: old European collection.

Small stela dedicated to Bhairava. The Hindu god is standing on a corpse and holding the snake ("naga") in his right hand, a skull cap ("kapala") in his left hand, and his weapons in his other two hands. Black stone with remnants of ritual material. Nepal, circa 15th century. Height: 5 3/4" (14,5 cm). Mounted on a custom stand. Erosion, otherwise good condition