Catalog (495)

Quirky set of Tibetan tools/utensils in copper and shagreen sheath. The blades and other bits are good quality steel with good bone handles. Possibly a surgeons or dentists set, I honestly don’t know- there are no chopsticks or forks, as is typical, so I don’t think these were used for eating. The knife has a good edge, this will clean up with a bit of baking powder and effort. All pieces in good condition and functional. Old circa 19th CE. See scale in last enlargement.

Collection of three vintage/antique cloth printing blocks from Tamil Nadu, carved from hard wood (probably Jackwood) all in excellent condition, acquired in India 30 years ago. Very decorative- may be hung on as a wall art ensemble. Large one: H: 26.3/10.4in x W: 16.4 cm/6.4in, round one D: 20.6 cm/10.2in and, small one H: 17.5/6.9in x W 8.3cm/3.2in.

Rare antique classical period Kandyan standing Buddha, carved from Jackwood, circa 18thCE. H: 18cm/7in, please note in enlargements outstretched hand in the abhaya mudra and unisha are missing.

Unusual grey pottery jar from the syncretic Buddhist Dali Kingdom circa 982CE–1253CE, which was located in present day Yunnan. The Dali State was not fully absorbed into the Chinese Empire until the Ming Dynasty, although it did accept Mongol control and were by and large allowed to manage their own affairs as long as they contributed soldiers. This jar has mysterious animal appliqued faces well as Buddhist images set against peepul tree leaves (Bodhi Tree). This is in good condition with ...

Lovely old Afghan Turkmen chuval/torba (door or floor cushion section) wool on wool weaving, all natural dyes circa 80 years old. Minor restoration around the edges but over all very good condition with an intricate pattern. Dimensions 120cm x 39cm.

Good Mandalay period Nat circa last half 19th century, carved from alabaster with traces of original pigment, this ha very expressive face. Nats are spirits were historic characters that became deified or associated with places and elements of nature. Their veneration predates the acceptance of Buddhism but eventually was absorbed into mainstream Burmese Theravada Buddhism. H: 22cm. there are few shallow scuffs but otherwise good condition. Please note last image is for reference: Myanma...

Very good, Pagan 12th century, impressed image of the Buddha inset a niche, flanked by stupas and two lines of Nagari script beneath. Overall the details are crisp and the interplay between light and shadow on this piece are quite dramatic. The best examples of this type reside in the Ashmolean and British Museums. This piece has some chipping on one outer side (please see enlargements), bear in mind most of the ones available these days are either fragments or heavily damaged, this one ...

Rare cream colored glazed Myanmar bowl with incised lotus and flared rim design circa 13th/14th CE, found at the Tak Hilltop Burial Site along the border of Burma and Thailand. I bought this about 20 years ago, now you cannot find these anymore. There are 3 repairs on the rim. Of these white wares from Burma, I have only seen one unrestored piece. D: 17.7cm/7in and H: 7.5cm/2.9in.

Good antique storage basket from the Bidayuh people of Sarawak. The lid is made from the skin of a sambar deer while the basket plaiting is rattan and the inside is lined with bark. I purchased this Kuching, Sarawak in 1988, and it was old at the time, so it's 38 years older now. There is a hole in the lid as well as some loss to the bark lining- please examine enlargements. H: 5ocm/19in and D: 35.5cm/14in.

Pair of Song Dynasty soy brown, Jian type bowls from the Dongzhang/Minho kiln in Fujian, recovered from the Lianjiang shipwreck. Good condition, no damage or repairs, there is some original kiln grit in the cavetto and a minor irregularity on the rim of one. D: 10cm/4in and H: 4.5cm/1.8in. May still be used in a tea ceremony.

Neolithic/Bronze Age reddish clay, pottery jar from an unknown culture. I acquired this in a group of Chinese Neolithic pottery pieces but I can’t find any references to this being Chinese. I tend to think this from Thailand or some other Southeast Asian culture. Low fired with very good near invisible restoration. If you know what this is, drop me a line and let me know. D: 12cm/4.7in and H: 8.5cm/3.6in.

Very rare Tang Dynasty (618CE to 907CE) terra cotta wall tile depicting the face of a Zhemushou, a fierce guardian earth spirit meant to ward off evil. It is a trapezoidal shape with much of original red and black pigments intact. Some loss to the lower lip (please see enlargements). Lower W: 19cm/7.8in, upper W: 16cm/6.1in and H: 20cm/9in.

Peach blossom, red and green mottled glazed bottle vase circa mid 20th century (a conservative dating) good condition. H: 16.5cm/6.5in and D: 11cm/4.2in.

Rare 4.9cm/1.9in Thai stoneware bowl from the Sankampaeng kiln circa 15th/16th CE with two fish in the center and scalloped cavetto, there is well done repaired chip on the inner rim noted last enlargement. This is a classic and definitive piece for the Sankampaeng kiln as the incised/impressed fish motif is only found on ceramics from this Thai kiln. There are some blue flambé highlights in the center, probably accidental but quite attractive. D: 21.5cm/8.2in and H: 5cm/2in.

200.00 Large pale green glazed plate with incised decoration, most likely fired at the Thantwe kiln near present day Rangoon, Burma. Excavated from the Tak Burial site near, Mae Sot along the Thai/Burmese border. This can be reliably dated to least 14th/16th centuries due to other known and datable ceramics from China and Thailand that were found in the same strata. There does not appear to be any cracks or breakage but there has been some restoration to glaze that has completely fritte...

Good circa early 20th CE pair of miniature Lanna Northern Thai Buddhas. The small one on left is amulet sized (H: 5.2cm/2in) with traces of gold and black lacquer and the larger one is a small votive image (H: 7.2cm/2.8in). I believe these to be cast in zinc. Free shipping international shipping via Hong Kong Registered Airmail.

Good Kayan Orang Ulu gawai rice festival ceremonial mask, circa 40 years old, from Sarawak. I bought this piece in Kuching, Sarawak in 2003. Used only twice a year for rice planting and harvesting festivals (gawai), these gatherings were usually a good excuse for a party and celebration to encourage the spirits to ensure a good harvest. H: 25cm/9.8in and W: 16cm/6.2in.

Very rare pair of Yuan Dynasty Qingbai completely glazed jars with phoenix lids. These are high fired porcelain quality white bodied Jingdezhen wares with “iron rust” splashes and quirky applique figures. One is slightly larger than the other but both are from the same kiln and period. H: 40cm/15.8in x D:18cm/7in and H: 37cm/14.6in and D: 17.5cm/6.9in. There are Chinese characters at top of each jar the most legible one is “moon” and the incised one is ….. There are some minor damages...