Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Indian Subcontinent: Himalayas (104)

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

Statue of Hindu god Indra, wearing a diadem, large earrings and a loin cloth, sitting in a variation of the virasana posture. He has the typical third eye on his forehead. His face reflects a profound inner serenity. The statue is made of gilt bronze, with a nice age patina and remnants of ritual material on the face. Nepal, early 19th century. Height: 24.5 cm. Old encrustations, otherwise very good condition.

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.

Small statue of Buddha depicting an important stage of his life when, still as Siddhartha, he sat meditating for a long time almost without eating and became emaciated and close to death, before realizing that the way to seek the Truth was not to torture oneself. Siddhartha, with an aureola at the back of his head, sits on a semi-circular throne with a vajra in relief on its front. Gilt copper, with a fine patina. Tibet or China, 19th century, maybe earlier. Height: 8.5 cm...

Three Tantric paintings on paper representing various celestial beings in the Tibetan Tantric Buddhism. On the first painting are shown a cross-legged character holding a staff, surrounded by clouds and riding a chimera, and below, a group of four female characters. On the second painting, a male character riding a horse and holding a lotus, and below a female character in formal attire...

Shaman's bracelet used during rituals meant to favor crops. Tha bracelet is decorated with two stylised men, each standing behind a plough drawn by two oxen. The rest of the decor consists in stylised plants and a circle (the sun?). The bracelet is made of bronze, with a beautiful patina. Himalayan Region, early 19th century, probably earlier. Inside diameter: around 8 cm. Very good condition. A very rare piece.

Salt box with its lid, of rectangular shape, decorated with incised geometric design on its sides, and geometric, partly in relief, design on its lid. An opening on the lid allows a spoon (now missing) to rest inside the box. Nepal, 19th century. Length: 18,7 cm. Height: 11 cm. Some erosion due to age, otherwise very good condition. Collected in Nepal in the early seventies.

Statue of Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, in monk's robes, sitting on a lotus throne, with a small stupa in his headdress, his hands holding a vase. The statue is made of copper, with a fine age patina. Tibet, 19th century. Height: 8.8 cm. Very good condition.

Very old anthropomorphic statue of a deity protecting a household, staying on a circular base, with an expressive face and hands in praying posture. Eroded wood, age patina. Nepal, 19th century. Height: 33.3 cm. The statue is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Collected in the early seventies in the Himalayan region.

Snuff bottle of flat circular form, the body itself made of ivory. The bottle has a silver neck with an intricate decoration affixing it to the body. It also has an opening at its center with round silver relief decor mount, the lid ending in a coral top. On one side, another relief decoration representing a four sided dorje with a loop for attachment to a belt. Tibet, 19th century. Diameter: 5 cm. Stopper and spoon missing, otherwise very good condition. Provenance: Old French collection...

Large circular plate beautifully and intricately decorated with concentric embossed designs, consisting in, on the front side, from the center to the rim: - in the center, a Citipati holding a skull in his left hand and a khatvangha in his right dancing on a lotus base and framed by a flaming mandorla, - a circle of tiny stylised Citipati, - a circle of skulls, - a wide circle containing two dragons facing the Flaming Pearl and two phoenixes below framing two deers facing the Wheel of the L...

Small "ghau", the front side, made of bronze, is decorated with a foliage and lotus design, the box itself ans its lid being made of copper with bronze handles. The "ghau" contains a tiny bronze statue of Bodhisattava Manjusri and textile. Fine age patina. A leather cord allows attachement of the "ghau" to a belt. Tibet, 19th century. Very 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.

Fine Tibetan "damaru" (ritual drum), made of silver and leather. The silver part is in the form of two "kapala shaped" parts, separated by a central silver belt, decorated with several turquoise and coral inserts, to which the handle is attached. This silver part is lavishly decorated with an embossed relief design representing foliage and Buddhist symbols. The leather part is painted in green. Two cotton cords, ending in two small balls are also attached to the drum to strike it...