Animism

Animism is the belief that plants, natural phenomena and inanimate objects all have a spiritual essence and, therefore, are worthy of worship and offerings to stay in their favor or, in the case of bad ones, to keep them at bay and disinterested. It is also a belief in spirits that exist separate from a human body.

Showing 1–12 of 21 results

  • Sale!

    Antique Agricultural Deity and Spring Ox, China (16337LKE) $885

    Original price was: $885.00.Current price is: $752.25.
    H: 14.25”  W: 7.125”  D: 4.875” | CALL 213-568-3030 FOR SHIPPING

    To pay homage and respect to one’s ancestors, Chinese rural families commissioned images to honor and protect family members, and in some instances, their domestic and farm animals as seen in this exceptional, fine and rare carving.  Intricately carved from one piece of wood, it depicts a Taoist official holding a hu tablet on top above  the “Spring Ox” accompanied by the “Herd Box”, who together perform an ancient agricultural rituals at the end of each winter to wake the earth up so that spring can arrive.

     

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    Antique Carved Teak Figure, Burma/Myanmar, (11001BKE) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $450.00.Current price is: $382.50.
    H: 23″  W: 10″  D: 5.5″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This wonderful teak carving may be an indigenous Burmese Nat placed atop a large fleur-de-lis shield reflecting British influence. Wearing a local native sarong (longyi) with an attractive border drawn up between his legs, a decorative pointed collar covers his chest and shoulders, his headgear is pointed at each side, the eyes are mother of pearl, and the red-painted lips are what remains of what was likely a fully painted carving.

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    Antique Hamsa Heddle Pulley, Burma/Myanmar (11298A-WCK) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $195.00.Current price is: $165.75.
    H: 10.5”  W: 3.25”  D: 2.375” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S. !

    This elegant heddle-pulley carved from a single piece of Burmese teak is topped by a hamsa, a goose-like bird  and a  sacred Buddhist symbol of wisdom mentioned in  the Jakata tales about the life of the Buddha. It is believed that auspicious symbolic animal images protected the weaver, assured quality weaving, and pleased the gods and spirits. This antique piece is wonderfully weathered from time and use.

  • Sale!

    Antique Lion (Chinthe) Ox Cart Ornament, Burma/Myanmar (11306FSE) $325

    Original price was: $325.00.Current price is: $276.25.
    H: 14.5”  W: 17.75”  D: 3.375” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    Finely carved figures were attached to ox cart yokes to protect farmers from malevolent spirits who inhabited all seen/unseen sectors of their world. . This beautifully carved ox cart yolk image is a chinthe, a mythical Burmese lion/dragon creature commonly decorating many everyday items. A propitious spiritual and protective guardian, the animalsymbolizes power, courage, and strength. This carving displays the common traits of a lions with a long face, large eyes, a long sharp nose, a lion-like beard, and a flame-like shape on the top of his head. Masterfully carved with careful attention to details, see the deeply incised hairs that cover his body. The 2-part piece is held together with a wooden plug. Though for daily use, Burmese craftsmen created beautiful objects and finished them with the best materials they could afford.

  • Sale!

    Antique Peacock Heddle Pulley, Burma/Myanmar (11297A-ZKE) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $245.00.Current price is: $208.25.
    H: 13”  W: 3.75”  D: 2.625” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.

    This Burmese teak heddle pulley is topped by a graceful peacock with tail extending to his head and a long elegant neck. The peacock symbolizes wholeness, combining all colors with its spread tail and the fleeting nature of all sentient beings. Drawing on old animistic beliefs,  old folk art Burmese heddles are decorated with carvings of mythical or auspicious animals providing the weaver protection and assuring good quality weaving. Mounted on metal pole with wood base.

  • Sale!

    Antique Peacock Heddle Pulley, Burma/Myanmar (11297B-ZKE) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $245.00.Current price is: $208.25.
    H: 14″ W: 2.675” D: 3.5” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This elegant heddle pulley carved from a single piece of Burmese teak is topped by a peacock, which in Buddhism represents the short-lived nature of all things and it also is the emblem of the last  Burmese dynasty. Borrowing from ancient animistic traditions, it was believed that auspicious symbolic animal images protected the weaver, assured quality weaving, and pleased the gods and spirits. This antique folk piece  is wonderfully weathered from time and use.

     

  • Sale!

    Antique Teak Hamsa Heddle Pulley, Stand, Burma/Myanmar (11298B-WHK) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $265.00.Current price is: $225.25.
    Ht: 10.625″ W: 3.375″  D: 2.5″|FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S. !

    This elegant heddle pulley with a hamsa is carved from a single piece of Burmese teak and portrayed with deeply cut wings to express well-articulated feathers. Having an unusually long tail, it runs from his rear and curves to the top of its head. Its feet are atop two connected heart-shaped panels that hide the moving thimble between them providing a more artistic feel. This piece is in very good condition, is wonderfully weathered, and has with minor losses with a fine patina covers its originally painted surface. Mounted on a black wood base, this heddle pulley pairs well with item number 11298A.

  • Sale!

    Antique/Vintage Bejeweled Wood Naga, Burma/Myanmar (11134B-KRK) SOLD

    Original price was: $1,133.00.Current price is: $963.05.
    H: 32″  W: 20″  D: 7.5″  SHIPPING INFORMATION REQUIRED. CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This exceptional naga was one of two that comprised a gong stand. Gongs were used in Burma for both ceremonial and musical purposes in religious, state, or secular settings. A protection figure, this naga is a superb carving elaborately decorated with gold lacquer and pigmentation. He opens his mouth wide bearing mother-of-pearl teeth and a curled blood red mouth and tongue to drive away malevolent spirits, also reinforced by the large glaring eyes circled in red. On first glance it is menacing, but its history as a protector of Buddha Shakyamuni make it prized as a fanciful, gleeful guardian. His scales are arched relief designs of mixed lacquer and ash and they are highlighted with inset cut mirrors and green sequin-like glass “jewels.” It is mounted on a museum quality stand and is in excellent condition for its age and use despite missing an ear.

  • Sale!

    Antique/Vintage Rangda Mask on Museum Stand, Indonesia, Bali (1310BML) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $875.00.Current price is: $743.75.
    H: 15.5”  W: 8.625”  D: 6” |CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING COST

    Central to Balinese culture and lore, Rangda is the demon-queen ruling an army of witches practicing black magic. Frightening, she has two upper fangs and two lower fangs now lost, scary teeth, jagged elements around her head, bulging eyes and is red symbolizing someone angry and threatening. In very good condition considering its age and use, it has expected paint losses, scratches and a fine patina. Personally collected in the 1970s, she is mounted on a museum-quality metal stand.

     

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    Rare Vintage Balinese Sweet Jauk Mask, Lombok (1320ZAR) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $395.00.Current price is: $335.75.
    H: 7.5”  W: 5”  D: 3.75” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL  U.S.!

    This finely carved vintage jauk mask is the manis (sweet, softer) version of a jauk mask. It and the dance present the gentle traits of a giant having more normal human features and a smile, and its white color is usually symbolic of purity. Those colored red or orange represent one easy to anger. Collected in the 1970s in Lombok, this mask is rare as then Lombok the Balinese community usually did not sell their masks. It has a fine aged patina with expected hairline cracks and frayed eyebrows consistent with its age and use.

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    Vintage Ancestor Mask, East Timor, Featured in 1st Spiderman Movie (1203BKM) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $1,750.00.Current price is: $1,062.50.
    Ht: 20.75″ W: 8″ D: 8.75″| FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030 or [email protected].

    This large rare vintage Timor ancestor mask has huge eyes, a horsehair beard, an inverted curved U-shaped mouth and two small half-circle ears and is an ancestral carving said to  protect living relatives. In excellent condition considering its age, storage and use, its black patina results from its storage above the hearth and comes with a museum-quality metal stand. This mask is one of 3 of our masks featured in the original 2002 Spiderman movie pictured on the wall in the collection of Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin.

     

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    Vintage Carved Dewi Sri Rice Harvest Goddess, Bali (3044WOK) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $425.00.Current price is: $361.25.
    Ht: 14.5”  W: 3.5”  D: 2.25” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S!

    This rare vintage carving was probably made for a  home shrine or small rice field temple dedicated to Dewi Sri, the Balinese Goddess of Rice. The hole near the bottom indicates it may have been part of a larger decorative scheme.

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