Catalog (43)

Fine rectangular lime box made of bronze, decorated with numerous silver inserts representing floral and geometric designs. Inside the box are four compartments with their lids, also decorated with silver inserts showing stylised flowers. Philippines archipelago, Mindanao island, early 19th century. Dimensions: length: 9.3 cm, height: 6.1 cm. Slight abrasion due to age, otherwise very good condition. Provenance: Acquired in Luzon island in 1978.

Statue of Kuan Yin, wearing a robe and a cape, sitting in "regal repose" on a dais surmounting a stylised lotus. Kuan yin is holding a scroll on her left hand and a small ball on her right hand. Glass, with remnants of soil encrustations. China, Qing Dynasty, early 19th century, maybe earlier. Height: 11.3 cm. Small chip at the back of right hand otherwise very good condition.

Wooden ornament, carved in relief on wood, representing Hindu god Kartikeya, with six heads, holding a spear in his right hand, riding his peacock, in a niche, flanked by two other niches in which are shown his two wives, Devasena and Valli. The two other niches are surmounted each by a kala makara (dragon) head. The whole scene is resting on two feet, each decorated in relief with a foliage design. India, 19th century, maybe earlier. Height: 49 cm. Slight abrasion due to age, chip on top, other...

Old helmet mask, of typical form, with three faces surmounted by an elaborate coiffe. Wood, with fine age patina. Africa, Sierra Leone, Mende ethnic group. Height: 16 cm. Diameter: 17 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Obvious signs of use and age, otherwise very good condition.

Brush case, nicely embossed with an openwork decoration representing three stylised Buddhist vajras on either side, surrounded with a foliage and geometric design. Silver alloy, with a fine age patina. The center of each vajra must have contained a coral or turquoise to enhance the beauty of the case. The case was made in Tibet in the 19th century, maybe earlier. Length: 33.5 cm. Very good condition .

Statue of Hindu goddess Durga, standing on a circular base, with her multiple arms, killing the demons. Bronze, with fine age patina. India, 15th/16th century. Height: 10.2 cm. Right hand missing, abrasion due to great age, otherwise very good condition

Fragment of a relief carved in marble to represent a flying "apsara". China, Tang dynasty, 10th century. Height: 12.5 cm. The piece is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Good condition. Provenance: French auction sale 1992.

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.

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.

Ancient mask, beautifully carved in heavy wood, with realistic features, representing the face of a snarling tiger. Wood, with remnants of the handpainted polychrome decoration. India, Gujarat or Maharashtra, Kukana tribes, early 20th century. Height: 27 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Old accident at lower jaw, very well restored locally. Acquired in 1974.

A finely carved male ibeji, with typical coiffe, scarifications on the abdomen and the back, arms alongside the torso, standing on a rounded base. Wood, with nice dark brown semi glossy patina. Africa, Nigeria/Benin, Yoruba ethnic group. Height: 30 cm. Very good condition. Provenance: Old French provincial collection.

Noh theater wood mask representing the character of Shakumi, a middle-aged woman. The loose strands of hair give her the careworn air of one who has suffered and survived countless trials. Note the slight sag to her cheeks and the creases on either side of her mouth. She often appears in the role of a mother. Japan, early 20th century. Height: 21 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. A few signs of use, otherwise very good condition.

Very rare and old mask, finely carved to represent Hanuman, half monkey half god, the deified hero of the famous Ramayana epic, with a vivid expression. Wood, with remnants of polychromy. Bhutan/Arunchal Pradesh, early 19th century. Height: 20.8 cm. Nicely mounted on a custom stand. Old insect infestation (no more danger), small crack at chin level, otherwise 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.

Very old wood statue of Buddhist goddess Sho Kannon Bosatsu (one of the many forms of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara), wearing formal robes, and a diadem with bronze decorations on the two sides, standing on a lotus, her left hand holding a vase, her right hand in abhaya mudra. The goddess face reflects a profound meditation. Remnants of the original gilding. Fine age patina. Japan, early Edo period. Height: 25.2 cm. Good condition.

Very rare heavy hardwood mask, with strong features in relief, an incised sacred trident on its forehead (the traditional weapon of Hindu god Shiva), round metal added eyes, large nose and mouth. Beautiful age patina, with traces of original pigments meant to enhance the mask features. Himalayan region, early 20th century. Height: 27 centimeters. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Old accidents which do not impair the mask beauty and unique quality, otherwise very good condition

Beautifully decorated book cover, of very refined gilded hammered copper on wood, with, on one side, two dragons with the "Ratna", or "Mani" (the Jewel of the Buddhist doctrine) in the middle, surrounded by stylised cloud motifs and framed in lotus design. On the other side, three handpainted Buddhist figures representing Manjushri, Chenresig and the Mahakala. These paintings have withstood the test of time a little less well than the front side. Otherwise, the book cover is in very good condit...

A half part of a military tally, finley cast in the form of a crouching tiger. Inside the tally is a protruding character and two round holes. Beneath the tally, nine incised halves of characters.The tally is made of bronze, with remnants of the original gilding and a fine patina. China, Early Ming dynasty or earlier. Height: 4.2 cm. Length: 8.2 cm. Very good condition. NOTE: a tally was used to command troops in ancient China. A messenger entrusted with delivering the emperor's orders carried...