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.
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This extremely rare late Ming/early Qing dynasty antique-Chinese-wood-carving carving is divided in two parts and is significant for its juxtaposition of images as well as its unique iconography. The top is one of the Taoist officials in typical officials-attire: an official’s hat, a tiered robe with a red sash extending to the tops of the…
This elegant antique 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. Auspicious symbolic animal images are believed protect the weaver, assure quality weaving, and pleases the gods and spirits. It is wonderfully weathered from time and use.
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.
This Burmese teak heddle pulley is topped by a graceful peacock. 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 wood base.
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. 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.
This elegant antique 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. Auspicious symbolic animal images are believed protect the weaver, assure quality weaving, and pleases the gods and spirits. It is wonderfully weathered from time and use with minor losses with a fine patina. Mounted on a black wood base, this heddle pulley pairs well with item number 11298A.
Dance mask of Rangda, sacred Balinese demon-queen with 2 upper and lower fangs, scary teeth, jagged facial elements, menacing eyes, deep red. Featured in Spiderman 2002 movie on museum quality metal stand.
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.
Rare Timor ancestor mask for ritual offerings to honor the departed and provide space during village visits, repel evil spirits. Featured in 2002 Spiderman movie in collection of the Green Goblin.
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.
The culture, rituals, tribal and ethnic art of the Dayak (Dyak) of Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia is a mix of shamanism, animism and ancestor worship. Dyak festival masks worn on the face or large ones attached to a costume repel malicious spirits from entering communal spaces, insure village safety, protect babies in their carriers and defend…
Vintage animistic Dayak ancestor mask for agricultural festivals, separate wing-like decoratively painted ears, long nose, gnarled teeth, featured in Green Goblin’s collection in 2002 Spiderman movie.
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