Showing 97–108 of 192 results
This charming oil lamp is decorated with auspicious symbols: Fish symbolize harmony, marital happiness and double fish mean “may there be abundance.” The oil cup is a lotus seed with a lotus leaf, symbols of a harmonious and fruitful marriage and also mean “the continuous birth of sons.”
This charming oil lamp is decorated with auspicious symbols: Fish symbolize harmony, marital happiness and double fish mean “may there be abundance.” The oil cup is a lotus seed with a lotus leaf, symbols of a harmonious and fruitful marriage and also mean “the continuous birth of sons,”
Exquisitely carved with expressive and spiritual bearings, these three 19th century rare small antique wood Apostles have eyes with inset glass, painted lashes, and well-articulated facial features . The crack lines on each side of their faces indicate the process by which the eyes were inset in front of the faces. All are seated, bearded and wear similar robes, although the garments are in different vibrant color combinations, the hand positions are varied and the body postures diverge slightly. Each is mounted on a two-tiered wood base, elevated at different heights. This piece is featured in a VA instagram post.
This exquisite teak carving of a Mandalay Burmese male dancer wearing a sarong is in a fluid twisted pose emphasizing his strength, balance and grace with his raised hand is in a position similar to a Buddhist mudra. His humble status is reflected his head scarf and a bejeweled sarong with insert glass that reflect light and add movement and depth. His joyful beautiful face stares with open eyes and slightly parted lips It is simply a gorgeous work mounted on a contemporary frosted stand to complement any setting.
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.
Artfully shaped hsun ok pieces to hold offerings to monks and make merit reveal much about Burmese artisans: exceptional lacquer ware skills, support for monks and devotion to Buddhism. This large elegant Hsun Ok has a flaring pedestal, lid with a finial symbolizing a Buddhist stupa and applied mythical animals and floral decorations. Early 20th century pieces with these special details are harder to find and copies abound.
This antique carving of a Devi, the Sanskrit word for divine probably was a child’s toy and and a protective item. She has a tikka mark on her forehead, ample breasts – a wish for fertility-, and an upright stance asserting her position as a protective deity. It has been handled so often the wood and paint are extremely smooth with a shiny patina.
These carvings of the Taoist-Deities Tudi Gong and his wife Tudi Po are from rural Southern China where they were frequently depicted together as house-gods on a home altar or local temple for farmers to pray to for abundant harvests and success in selling their products. Although Tudi Gong is a low ranking deity, he…
This vibrant glass painting of Krishna along with the panel of a Peacock (3983MCE) were insets in a highly decorated Indian wood cabinet or chest. Krishna is one of the most popular Hindu deities, beautifully depicted here in a bright yellow dhoti, peacock feather crown, and jewels in serenading his adoring gopis with his engaging flute. The unique frame complements the painting’s richness and vintage feel.
This elegant hsun-ok reveals much about the Burmese: their profound belief in Buddhism and commitment to support the monastic life, remarkable woodworking and lacquerware skills and sense of simplistic elegant design and form. This has a simple yet striking silhouette with raised circular layers on a pedestal base and woven vertical bands topped by a tall round finial recalling a Buddhist pagoda or stupa. This graceful piece is a perfect accent for any décor.
This exceptional polychrome mask (topeng in Java, tapel in Bali) of Jatayu blends Balinese ethnic and folk-art with Hindu cultural traditions. Indonesia was part of the larger Hindu Majapahit Empire (1293-1527), is now a Muslim majority but Bali remains mostly Hindu. Balinese masks are often made from a single piece of local pulai wood whose…
Balinese masks (tapel in Balinese, topeng in Java), are said to have existed since the 10th century and often are danced in sacred Hindu stories with important moral, ethical, historical and philosophical ideas, This is especially true as many come from ancient Hindu texts like ancient epics the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Babad Dalem, the…
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