Catalog: Antiques (461)

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.

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.

Tiny statue of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara in his Padmapani manifestation, wearing formal garment and diadem, standing on a lotus. Gilt bronze. China, Tang Dynasty. Height: 4.6 cm. The statue is mounted on a plexiglass stand. Gilding partly missing, otherwise very good condition.

Large mask representing the face of Mahakala with its typical terrifying expression, the features being carved in relief and the mouth in openwork showing teeth . At the top of the back of the head a small cylinder has been carved on a small platform. This cylinder was meant to contain a horse hair (often of white coulour), to decorate the mask. Wood, with obvious signs of great age and remains of woodworm attack (no more danger). Old accidents and old and local restorations on top of mask...

Belt hook, or fibula, made of glass, with a finely detailed decoration in relief, largely influenced by the Warring States Period style, and representing, from top to bottom, first a large dragon head, then two chimeras side by side, then, at the end, a large tiger head. Nicely incised knob at the back. China, Qing Dynasty, 18th century, maybe earlier. Length: 19.8 cm. Remnants of soil encrustations. Very good condition. A very rare object.

A group of three mat weights. The first one is of circular form, with two tiger heads. Dimensions: H 35 mm, D 50 mm. The second one is oval shaped, looking like a chimera with wings. Dimensions: H 32 mm L 52 mm. The third one is a bird holding a branch in its beak, with an oval base. Dimensions: 34 mm, L 44 mm. All are made of gilt bronze, with a fine patina. Gilding partly missing, otherwise very good condition. Provenance: French provincial auction sale in the early seventies...

Small figurine representing Kuan Yin, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, in formal attire and wearing elaborate diadem and necklaces, flanked by two worshippers, standing on an elevated throne in front of which a lion head is showing in relief. Bronze, with dark reddish-green patina. China, Northern Wei or Sui Dynasty. Height: 2 3/4" (7 cm). Abrasion due to great age, otherwise good condition. An extremely rare object.

Small gilt bronze altar dedicated to Bodhisattva Padmapani, resting on four pillars, showing the Bodhisattva standing, backed by an aureola, holding a gourd in his left hand, his right hand in appeasing/blessing posture (abhaya mudra). Fine patina. China, Northern Wei Dynasty. Height: 8.3 cm. Very good condition.

Sutra book cover carved all over its surface with, in the center, a Bhaisajyaguru Buddha ("The Master of Healing") sitting on a lotus throne in a niche, and Tibetan characters on the rest of the surface. On one side, a monster head surrounded with floral designs is carved. Wood with fine dark-brown glossy patina and remnants of red pigments. Tibet, 15th century. Length: 53.5 cm. Erosion and chips, otherwise good condition.

Ivory seal carved to represent a lion resting on a rectangular base. Inscription in archaistic style beneath. China, Ming Dynasty. Height: 5.5 cm. Very good condition.

A buff-terracotta vessel, with rounded body, tapering cylindrical neck with ribbed collar in relief and everted molded rim, the shoulder incised with concentric circle bands. Thailand, Haripunchai period, ca. 11th century. Height: 23.5 cm. Very good condition. Provenance: Auction sale Sotheby's New York, June 17th 1993, lot # 370. Related catalog available.

Small four legged portable Buddhist altar with a statue of bearded Bodhisattva Padmapani standing on an elevated and stylized lotus throne and holding a gourd in his left hand. Gilt bronze with partly encrusted green patina. China, Wei Dynasty period (386-534 AD). Height: 3 5/16" (8,5 cm). Gilding partly missing in small areas, otherwise very good condition. Ex. old German collection.

A very fine mask of the esoteric "Nuo" theater, representing the character of Tudigong, the God of the Soil and of the Cereals, wearing an official cap, his face illuminated by a large smile. Wood, with traces of polychrome colors under the black coating. China, early 20th century. Height: 23.7 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Very good condition.

Grey schist relief fragment, decorated in detail with, on the left side, two square niches showing two stages of the life of Buddha --- Buddha standing and flanked by his two disciples on the upper niche, and Buddha sitting on a throne and meditating with his two disciples in praying posture --- while on the right side, are two superimposed rectangular niches inside which two putti are shown. Gandhara Graeco-Buddhist art, ca. 3rd century. Height: 18.5 cm. Width: 18 cm. Thickness: around 4.5 cm...

Head of Buddha with a serene expression. Grey sandstone, with some remnants of the original lacquering and gilding at the back. Ears partly missing, nose restored. Thai Ayuthaya period, 16th/17th century. The head is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Height of the head: 18 cm.

Miniature statue of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, standing in formal attire, backed by an aureola, holding an object in his left hand. Gilt bronze. China, Sui Dynasty (581-618 A.D.). Height: 5.7 cm. The statue is mounted on a custom plexi stand. Mandorla partly missing, soil encrustation, otherwise good condition.

Funeral statuette composed of two separate parts: a head made of limestone, a formal robe made of chlorite adorned with a necklace and two tigers in relief on the sides. This type of statuette is commonly called "Bactrian princess" among specialists, and dates back from the mid third to the early second millenium BC. Such funeral objects seem to have played an important role in the funerals of elites of the Margiana and maybe the Bactrian courts as well. Height: 6.5 cm. Width: 4 cm...

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.