Mythical Animals

Showing 1–12 of 55 results

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

    $885.00
    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.

     

  • Antique Brass Nandi, India (9509B-GAH) $155

    $155.00
    H: 3.5″  W: 1.75″  D: 2.5″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    This finely cast antique figurine with finely articulated features portrays Nandi with jewels sitting recumbent on a high-tiered throne. Kneeling in reverence to serve  Lord Shiva he is a symbol of purity and strength. Small figurines were placed on home shrines with other deities and significant family items. Made using lost wax   it is a one-of-a-kind piece

     

  • Antique Bronze/Brass Nandi, South India (9510VHE) $395

    $395.00
    H: 3.25”  W: 1.375”  D: 2.5” | FREE SHIPPING

    This small antique brass Nandi is exquisitely handcrafted with a wonderfully aged patina. He sits recumbent on a raised rectangular platform. Delicately incised with decorative details delineating the head, neck, snout and body, his right leg and tail are sinuous, graceful ornaments rather than defining features. His head is at a 45-degree with lyrically curved horns in contrast to most versions with horns extending backwards. This Nandi is based on a South Indian cow whose humpback is emphasized here by two parallel lines covering it as if is part of a saddle or another ornament feature.

  • Antique Buddha as an Infant on a Lion, China (19405DRK) $850

    $850.00
    H: 9″  W: 3.625″  D: 3.5″ | FREE UPS SHIPPING!

    This rare carving of the infant Buddha with well defined features is clearly a provincial rendering that uniquely departs from traditional renderings. He holds a monk’s begging bowl as he points to the heavens and he stands on a lion’s head, as he is the lion of the Shakya clan. Given its small size, it was probably displayed on a home altar.

  • Antique Carved Jewelry Box with Auspicious Symbols, China (16000TRK) $325

    $325.00
    H: 6.375″  W: 10.75″  D: 7.125″ FREE SHIPPING!

    This charming carved and lacquered multi-use box opens from the top and has a side drawer with a metal pull. It decorated with auspicious carved symbols as wishes for a good, healthy, prosperous and long life  Carved fu lion heads with flowing manes adorn the front and plum blossoms and a fan adorn the front and frame.  Painted calligraphic poetic phrases refer to a wish for many sons. It probably was a wedding gift to newly weds and would still be great for that purpose.

  • Antique Carved Lacquered Pair of Fu Lions on Pedestals, China (19074ASE) $995

    $995.00
    H: 12″  D: 7″  D: 7.75″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This very fine pair of antique carved males fu lions represents the dual nature of these mythical animals: as protective images they are powerful and fierce, as Buddhist images they are whimsical with smiling faces, dangling tongues, hanging ears and bushy tails. They are extremely well carved with harnesses and bells around their necks, detailed manes and tails on high intricately decorated bases to signal their importance. Perfect for enhancing feng shui in a home or office, large finely decorative wood pairs like this are extremely hard to find.

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  • Antique Ethiopian Coin Silver Latin Cross (E331PCE) $175

    $175.00
    Ht: 2.125″  W: 1.5″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This simple elegant Ethiopian Cross neck pendant is a plain Latin Cross, the universal symbol of Christianity, surmounted by a raised rounded cross in the center.  With a distinct and massive feel, its soft edges and matted surface from years of wear impart a feeling of grace and warmth.  Made using the lost-wax process, each is a one-of-a-kind work of art. 

     
  • Antique Glazed Garden Stool, Coin/Taotie Designs, China (16777B-VCEM) $1275

    $1,275.00
    H: 19”  W: 15”  D: 14” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    Fashioned in a traditional drum/barrel shape, this unusual and ornately decorated antique garden stool is covered with auspicious symbols, and the positive energy from them is believed to be absorbed by the lucky individual who sits on them. Highlighted with pierced decorations and circular reliefs the upper borders of the body of this beautiful stoneware stool is covered with four bands of apple green, white, brown and cobalt blue – an expensive and infrequently used pigment.  The bottom portion is covered in a mustard yellow glaze with pierced and relief images of double coins, tao tieh and florals.

     

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  • Antique Guanyin on a Mythical Hǒu, China (16370BCK) $875

    $875.00
    H: 9.5”  W: 2.25”  D: 6.5” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This remarkable and enchanting figurine is Guanyin on her mythical  mount, the Hǒu the guardian master of the universe and model for righteousness and morality who symbolizes bringing forth peace and prosperity.The round orb in its mouth representing a pearl can be rubbed for good luck.  It is one of our most unique and favorite Buddhist statues, mounted on a frosted acrylic stand.

  • Antique Hamsa Heddle Pulley, Burma/Myanmar (11298A-WCK) $195

    $195.00
    H: 10.5”  W: 3.25”  D: 2.375” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This elegant heddle-pulley carved from a single piece of Burmese teak is topped by a hamsa, 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.

  • Antique Hindu Garuda Prayer Bell, India (9545XLC) $295

    $295.00
    H: 10”  Dia: 3.75” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This Hindu prayer bell was likely placed on a home or temple altar and in daily puja rituals. This simple yet elegant bell has a smooth and undecorated body with only incised parallel rings circling plain surfaces and is topped by a pair of Garudas sheltered by a hood of Nagas. Garuda, the mythical winged bird that is Vishnu’s mount, and Naga, a seven-headed hooded serpent, are natural enemies and when they are represented together, they symbolizes  peace, a very appropriate adornment for the tranquility and serenity elicited by the pleasing sounds of a prayer bell.

     

     

    Martin Lerner an Steven Kossak, The Lotus Transcendent: Indian and Southeast Asian Art from the Samuel Eilenberg Collection, Harry Abrams, New York, 1991.

     

  • Antique Hindu Peacock Oil Lamp, India (9526BEB) $365

    $365.00
    H: 13″  W: 8.5 ”  D: 4.75  ”  | FREE SHIPPING!

    This graceful brass oil lamp is topped by two peacocks, a large one that held oil and a smaller one decorated with striated lines. sitting high on a thin mount with  a spiral base. It was used for Hindu prayer rituals (puja) in the home or at temples and for devotional worship. This fine lost wax lamp with a soft patina is a one-of-a-kind piece. Often used in Hindu religious sculptures, peacocks have a strong religious tradition and represent harmony, joy and beauty and the time cycle.

     

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