Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art (458)

Mask of the traditional Noh theater representing the character of Obeshimi. Wood, with polychrome painting meant to enhance the features of the face. Japan, end of 19th century. Height: 20.2 cm. A few chips onthe painting, obvious signs of great age, otherwise good condition. NOTE: Obeshimi is used for Noh plays featuring "tengu", mythical demons that defy Buddhist law.

A set of three 19th century Indian jeweler's moulds, made of bronze, each one representing a Hindu deity. The first one shows a female deity, maybe Sarasvati, with four arms, holding her four attributes in her hands, riding a horse and surrounded by foliage. An inscription is incised at the back of the mould. Height: 6.3 cm. The second mould shows god Khandoba (a form of Shiva), holding a sword, riding a horse together with his wife, and accompanied by a dog running under the horse...

Small covered box with an embossed decoration all around the body representing stylised animals in small medalions. The lid is surmounted by an animal (tiger?) and the base is decorated with a lotus. Solid silver with a fine patina. Burma, 19th century. Height: 5.5 cm. Diameter: 5.7 cm. Very goodcondition.

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.

Statue of Guanyu, the general of Liu Bei, which was transformed into the famous Guangong, the Taoist God of War. Guanyu is shown here in full military garb, with helmet and armor, sitting on an elevated throne. Votive box at the back, still closed. Wood, with remnants of superimposed painting, lacquering and gilding. China, 19th century. Height: 24.7 cm. Painting and lacquering partly flaked, otherwise very good condition.

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.

Old Incense burner of circular shape resting on three feet, decorated on all sides with dragons in relief. The two handles are in the shape of agressive dragons. Bronze, with green patina in the recesses. Reign mark beneath, probably apocryphal (Ming Dynasty, Xuande reign). China, 19th century. Height: 3 3/8" (8,7 cm). Diameter: 5 7/8" (15 cm). Very good condition.

Silver alloy opium box, lavishly decorated on all its sides with relief designs representing a nobleman with his servant in a park, flowers, birds (on the lid), and two inscriptions. Partly erased artist mark beneath. China, 19th century. Height: 6.2 cm. Very good condition.

Large and important bust of Hindu goddess Parvati, wife of god Shiva. This beautiful lost wax chiseled and cast bust made of bronze underlines perfectly the harmony of the face and the beauty of the jewelry the goddess is wearing. India, 19th/20th century. Height: 30.2 cm. Very good condition. NOTE 1: As the title implies, ("Parvati Mukhalinga"), this bust was associated with the Linga of Shiva. The Linga is a phallic symbol, symbolising the power of Shiva...

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.

Beautiful and rare opium scale in its box made of wood lacquered in black with a design showing a red cross.The scale is made of bronze and complete. Burma, 19th century. Length of the box: 16,7 cm. Obvious signs of wear due to age, otherwise very good condition. NOTE: the piece was collected in 1974 in the North of Thailand by its former owner. Très jolie et rare balance à opium dans sa boite en bois laqué noir avec un décor de croix en laque rouge...

Very rare complete skull of an orang-outang, decorated with carved typical geometric designs and with the threatening face of a god or a genie on the forehead. The skull has kept its lower jaw which is attached to it with a sliced bamboo tie. The age patina is beautiful. Indonesia, Borneo Island, Dayak Peoples. Height: around 6 1/2" (about 16,5 cm). Very good condition. IMPORTANT: export to the European Community countries only.

Long temple banner, also called "bridge painting" hand painted on paper representing Taoist deities in all sorts of situations. A stick is affixed on both ends. China, mid 19th century, Yao ethnic group, south-west China. Length: 4.12 m. A few restorations and losses, otherwise good condition.

Finely cast gilt bronze statue of Hindu god Vishnu, wearing a diadem with a flaming aureola at the back, necklaces bracelets and a dhoti, holding his attributes with his four arms. The god is standing on and backed by the Naga. India, late 19th century. Height: 15 cm. Very good condition. NOTE: Images of Vishnu typically depict him with four arms, holding his attributes: the club, wheel, conch and lotus flower. The club is a symbol of Vishnu's divine power, and the wheel, a symbol of the sun...

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...

Noh theater mask, with a vivid fierce expression, representing the character of Otobide. Wood, painted in gold, silver, black and red to enhance the mask features. Japan, 19th century. Height: 21.2 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Old accidents and restorations, otherwise good condition.

Statue of a household protecting ancestor, sitting on a rounded base, his head with an unusual pointed top, his hands in "namaste" posture. Wood, with fine age patina. Nepal, 19th century. Height: 35 cm. Strong abrasion due to great age, otherwise good condition. Provenance: collected in Kathmandu in 1974.

A fine cricket cage, composed of a body made from a gourd and a rim and lid made of ivory. The lid itself is nicely carved to represent a lotus and foliage around surmounting an openwork geometric design. Its silk case, partly damaged, is joined to the cage. China, 19th century. Length: 7.8 cm. Very good condition.

Finely carved mask of the Noh traditional theater, with a verystrong expression, representing the character of Otobide. The mask is made of wood, painted in gold (the whole face), black (for the eyebrows and moustache, also on top of the forehead) and red (for the mouth), and the eyes are made of brass. Japan, late 19th century. Height: 21.2 cm. Slight abrasion on some areas due to age, otherwise very good condition...

Unusual small dagger, its handle made of horn and carved in the shape of a forearm and fist. The strangely shaped iron blade bears the craftsman's initials. Indonesia, Borneo Island. Length: 7 3/8" (18,7 cm). The piece is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Signs of long use, otherwise good condition.

Rare plate decorated with a relief design representing two intertwined Citipati dancing together on a lotus. Gilt copper, fine patina. Tibet, 19th century. Height: 39.4 cm. Very good condition.

Bronze statue of Buddha, in monk's robes, wearing a kind of diadem, sitting on a throne, his hands in bhumisparsa mudra. Old glass inserts on the diadem, some missing. Burma, Mandalay period, 19th century. Height: 10 cm. Some abrasion, otherwise very good condition.

Antique temple banner consisting in a long sort of ribbon made of paper on which a series of religious scenes showing Taoist gods and chimeras are hand painted with polychrome pigments. The banner is around 10 m long by 27 cm high, and is affixed to a wood stick on both sides. The piece is signed Zheng Fa and dated Xian Feng 6 (1855). It is coming from the South West region of China, and was painted by an artist who was a member of the Yao ethnic minority...

Small altar ("zushi" in Japanese) made of wood, lacquered in black outside, gilt inside. The locking system as well as the hinges are made of beautifully decorated bronze. The altar contains a gilt wood statue of Buddha sitting cross-legged in meditation posture on an elevated throne backed by an aureola. Japan, 19th century. Total height: 8" (20,5 cm). Flaked lacquer at the base, otherwise very good condition.

Small scroll painting on paper representing two Taoist gods, the one on top wearing a mandarin attire, holding a banner and riding a white bird, the one on the lower side in military garb, riding a tiger, holding a banner in his left hand. China, mid 19th century. Height: 42 cm. Obvious signs of great age, a few losses, otherwise good condition.

Belt hook nicely carved in the shape of a dragon. Light green jade. China, 19th century or earlier. Length: 9,2 cm. Remnants of soil encrustations suggesting a rather long stay underground, otherwise very good condition.

Rosewood ("hongmu") of rectangular shape, its sides decorated with openwork carving representing classical geometric designs. China, 19th century. Length: 34 cm. Width: 16 cm. Height: 6.7 cm. Very good condition. NOTE: the table still bears the seal of the Chinese Cultural Relics and Antiques Department.

Small statue of Kuan Yin, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, wearing a diadem and formal robes, sitting on a double lotus throne, her right hand in abhaya mudra. Gilt bronze, with fine dark green patina. China, 19th century. Height: 8.8 cm. Gliding partly missing, otherwise every good condition.

Large bracelet of flat shape decorated with a relief geometric design. Bronze, with dark-green patina. Philippines Archipelago, Mindanao Island, 19th century. Diameter: 4 3/4" (12 cm). Very good condition. Collected in the Philippines in 1978. A rather rare piece.

Silver pot with an elaborate embossed decoration consisting in a dragon on its handle, a "makara" on its spout, Buddhist symbols on its neck, and dragons and stylized lotus on its body. Tibet, 19th century. Height: 14.5 ccm. Very good condition.

Pair of ivory buttons of square shape, with a finely carved relief decoration representing each a different Disciple of Buddha ("arhat"). Japan, 19th century. Height: 2.8 cm each. Small chips at the attachment knobs at the back, otherwise very good condition.

Opium lamp inserted in a sort of cylindrical cage. A chain attached to the top of the cage allows an easy transportation of the lamp. The lamp can entirely be taken to pieces (see photo). Brass and glass. China, 19th century. Height: 6 5/8" (17 cm). Very good condition.

Paper fan, mounted on rib and guard flat sticks, made of wood nicely lacquered and gold painted with elaborate human, geometric and floral designs. The paper part is made of two concentric bands, richly decorated on both sides with polychrome, gold and silver hand painted miniature scenes showing different characters on various situations...

Extraordinary, rare and very old ancestral statue, "korwar", carved from single piece of wood representing a standing human figure on a rounded base with a symbolically oversized skull head, with a lodging on top to accommodate a real partial ancestor skull. Two small dieties figures were carved in relief on the sides of the skull. Addionally, the right arm of the human figure was carved separately and affixed to the korwar with a tenon. Korwar figures represent ancestor spirits that are hig...

Statue of Xuan Wu, or Zhen Wu, God of the North, in formal attire, sitting on a throne, with his two attributes, the snake and the tortoise. Wood with polychrome painting. China, 19th century Height: 13" (32,5 cm). Colors partly chipped, otherwise very good condition. NOTE: Xuan Wu is one of the highest ranking Taoist deities.

Lavishly decorated and partly gilt silver alloy bracelet set with red glass cabochons and relief geometric designs. Tekke Turkmen culture, Afghanistan. Height: 7,3 cm. Very good condition.