Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian (41)

Very old small "korwar", or funeral altar, representing a human figure with a huge head, standing on a rounded base, legs half bent, and holding with both hands an elaborated openwork shield. Wood, with fine age patina. Indonesia, Papua Province, Cenderawasi Bay. Height: 23.7 cm. Strong abrasion due to age, old accidents, otherwise good condition.

Okimono nicely carved to represent a bearded dignitary standing, wearing formal attire. Ivory, fine patina. Japan, early 20th century. Height: 25 cm. Old accidents and restorations (see photos), otherwise good condition.

String instrument ("saranghi") made of wood, decorated on its top with a human figure. Fine dark brown glossy patina. Himalayan region, early 20th century. Height: 42 cm. The sarangi is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Very good condition. NOTE: collected in Nepal in 1974.

Unusual architectural element, carved in the form of a smiling man standing on the head of a water buffalo ("carabao"). This element was part of the decoration inside a house. Wood, semi glossy patina. Indonesia, Flores Island, mid 20th century. Height: 44 cm. The element is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Very good condition despite some remnants of insect infestation (no danger).

Tobacco pipe of curved shape, with lavish geometric decor, its bowl in the shape of stylized lotus. Silver, fine darkish patina. Thailand, Northern Region, Lawa Peoples. Height: 14 cm. Very good condition. Collected in 1974 by its former owner.

Statue of a protecting deity or ancestor, standing on slightly bent legs, its hands in praying posture, its face expressing agressiveness. Patinated and eroded wood. Nepal, early 20th century. Height: 15" (38 cm). The statue is mounted on a custom metal stand.

Small statue of an ancestor or protecting deity, wearing a ceremonial cap, holding a sort of square box with both hands and standing on a rounded base. Wood, light brown patina. Indonesia, Moluccas Archipelago. Height: 13 1/2" (34 cm). Strong erosion and old accidents due to old age. Ex. Old French collection. A rare piece.

Shamanic drum handle, carved in the shape of a "phurpa" (shamanic ritual dagger), surmounted with three deities heads. Wood, fine dark brown patina. Nepal, early 20th century. Height: 33.5 cm. Nicely mounted on a custom stand. Very good condition.

Statue of Kuan Yin, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, wearing a diadem, a necklace and formal robes, sitting cross-legged, holding a bowl on her lap with both hands. Votive box at the back, lid missing. Wood, with traces of polychromy. China, Qing dynasty, early 20th century. Height: 29.5 cm. Soe light abrasion, otherwise very good condition.

Himalayan mask carved in relief, with a vivid expression. Wood, with a metal plate on the forehead and the chin to affix animal hair meant to represent the mask hair and beard. Nice age patina. Nepal, early 20th century. Height:29 cm. Very good condition

A fine Noh mask, with strong features, representing the character of Ayakashi, the malign aspect of a general killed in battle. Wood, with polychrome and gold painting, eyes made of brass. The mask is signed. Japan, early 20th century. Height: 21.7 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Very good condition. NOTE: The name "Ayakashi" also refers to an apparition with mysterious spiritual powers, or a vengeful sea-dwelling spirit...

Face mask, with a cylindrical coiffe presenting a small relief in its middle of what seems to be a head and raised arms surrounded by geometric design, with a protruding forehead, pierced through sunken eyes, long nose in relief, pierced through mouth showing teeth, long chin. Wood, with remnants of polychrome pigments, aged patina. China, Yao ethnic group, early 20th century. Height: 12 1/2" (32 cm). The mask is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand...

Very old face mask, of oval form, with minimalist cubistic features typical of this area. Strongly eroded wood, age patina. Indonesia, Timor island. Height: 31 cm. Mounted on a custom stand. Provenance: acquired in situ early 20th century, ex old Dutch collection.

Statue of a standing protector, his arms alongside his torso. Eroded wood, fine patina. Nepal, early 20th C. Height: 44 cm. The statue is mounted on a custom stand. Left leg partly missing, otherwise good condition. NOTE: collected in 1974 by its former owner.

Mask with a curved shape showing highly stylized features. Wood, with fine glossy brown patina. Nepal, early 20th century. Height: 28.7 cm. Small and old accidents, otherwise very good condition. A rare type of Himalayan mask.

Ceremonial hat made of intricately woven, partly dyed in red, cane, decorated with bear fur also dyed in red, feathers and two boar tusks. North India, Naga ethnic group. Height: 27 cm. Obvious signs of age, otherwise very good condition.

Head of funerary statue or effigy, of minimalist shape. Weathered wood, with shell eyes. Indonesia, South Sulawesi, Toraja Peoples. Height: 12" (30 cm). The head is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Very good condition. NOTE 1: The Toraja have this particularly interesting tradition of carving in wood funerary images of the deceased. These figures are kept in galleries or balconies beside the coffins in which high-ranking or noble or wealthy people are buried...

Statue of a Taoist exorcist ("yingong"), 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 polychrome painting. Animal hair used to represent the moustache and the beard. Votive box at the back, lid missing. China, early 20th century. Height: 25 cm. Painting partly flaking, otherwise very good condition.