This Tibetan shrine shaped gau (aka prayer box) is actually a religious shrine. When not being worn as an ornament during festivals, it would be kept in the prayer niche of the family home. The back of the box slides open. Frequently, a special prayer i.e. sutra pages would be placed inside. The small glass window at the front displays a Tsa tsa, which is a clay statue of a Buddhist Diety. These statues were made only by the monks and considered to be a holy relic...

Antique Tibetan bronze seated figure of Vajrasattva. Also called Dorje Sempa, Dorje means "indestructible diamond" and Sempa is the Tibetan term for Sattva in Sanskrit meaning "heroic being". Sempa in this case, refers to the role of a Bodhisattva, someone on the road to becoming a Buddha but who has stayed behind, selflessly dedicating themselves to helping others gain enlightenment...

Antique Tibetan Prajnaparamita made of patinated bronze. It has an elaborate crown framing the face with angular facial features. The figure is seated in royal ease pondering a shell in its right hand. The left hand holds a lotus sprig with traces of orange pigment. The figure has traces of prance, red, and yellow pigments. The robes are incised with a floral design. 20th century. It measures 12.25" tall.

A rather rare and fine votive image of gilt bronze depicting the four-armed Manjugosa Bodhisattva, a special Tantric Buddhist form of Manjusri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. Tibet, 17th cent. H 11 cm. Condition: Very fine gilt, some denting to back and to the sword. Closed base.

This beautiful antique short strand of beads would have been carried in the pocket and taken out for ritual religious prayer...2 spacer counter beads are honey amber and the 3rd is red coral...

Antique Tibetan bone carving, originally from a Shaman's robe worn during religious ceremonies. All hand-carved with a deity figure surrounded by highly intricate decorative motifs. Includes custom made iron display stand.Dates from the 18th century.

Size: 4.5" H x 1.5" L x .5" W (carving only) 6.5" H x 2" L x 2" W (on stand)

Strap made of a piece of thick leather, and cast silver and brass ornaments with turquoise.
Beautiful typical Sino-Tibetan craftsmanship including the face and hands of Kirtimukha ("face of glory").
This kind of strap was mainly used to attach a big knife.
This belt strap has obviously been repaired and remade (see pix). The turquoise have been replaced by an other old one; the silver and brass pieces are at least 19th C...

Antique Tibetan Dzi bead, agate with 8 eyes. The mystical Dzi beads are implements of ancient Tibetan and other Asian cultures for several hundreds of thousands of years. Dzi beads are believed to hold magical properties bringing prosperity and protection to whomever wore these beads.
They are also thought to hold medicinal properties, and so can be characterized by the "dig marks" left over the surface of the bead, where a small portion has been scraped away to be ingested...

Antique mandala thangka painting depicting a central image of Padmasambhava surrounded by various scenes of heavenly beings and fierce deities. The backside of the thangka with 3 character sanskrit inscription.

Padmasambhava is said to have lead the first Nyingma traditionalist teachings in Tibet, the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism...

Antique stone carving of Ganesha, the deity, deva, associated with the removal of obstacles. It was carved in the 19th century, acquired in Kathmandu in the 1960s. It measures 2.25" tall, 1"3/8" deep by 2" wide at base.

Small antique tribal Persian chanteh (bag). Hand woven of wool in lovely deep indigo blue and brown. A central rectangle of deep blue has six vertical bands of white with interlocking motifs perhaps of rams horns, a powerful masculine symbol. Framing this is a wide dark brown band which is subtly woven with repeating protective eye motifs. The back of the bag is woven a solid deep brown color. Circa 1900. Size: 17" wide x 13" high

Antique copper alloy Sino-Tibetan Buddhist ritual bell Ghanta and Vajra, 16th -17th century, Ming Dynasty, Tibet.

The ghanta is cast in two parts: a silvery metal bell decorated with a band of vajra symbols and the shoulder adorned with sacred syllables in a written lantsa script...

A massive/heavy SILVERED OPIUM SPOON WITH INTRICATE DETAIL WORK. ORIGIN: INDIA, 19th Century. Good Condition. Size: 14.5 cm. Weight: 79 gr. !

Antique middle eastern silk rug with scrolling floral design on a dark blue ground. late 19th early 20th century. It measures 44" by 56".

Antique Kurdish chanteh bag (camel bag). Made of wool and woven in two connected panels. The front panel (facing out on the camel) is woven with star protection motifs and surrounded with a running hooked motif along the border. The back of the bag is woven in a stripe pattern. Circa 1900. Size: 40" high x 29" wide

This Tibetan gau (aka prayer box) is actually a small shrine. When not being worn as an ornament during festivals, it would be kept in the prayer niche of the family home. The back of the box slides open. Frequently, a special prayer i.e. sutra pages would be placed inside. The small glass window at the front displays a Tsa tsa, which is a clay statue of a Buddhist Deity. These statues were made only by the monks and considered to be a holy relic...

This Antique Persian Tribal Kilim was woven by the Qashqai Nomadic Tribal group in Southwestern Persia/Iran. Woven in the late 19th century with amazing all natural colors and in remarkable condition. Both decorative and highly collectible piece. Qashqai rugs typically have designs of diamond shaped medallions. It has various shades of oranges and reds on brown abrash and off-white ground. It measures 12'5" by 4'10".

Antiquq Persian Afshar style rug hand knotted from wool.The Afshar were a preeminent nomad tribe who crafted high quality rugs. The two stepped medallions in the center is one of their typical designs. It measures 6'5" by 4'4".