One prominent Buddhist story tells of Avalokiteshvara vowing never to rest until he had freed all sentient beings from Samsara. Despite strenuous effort, he realizes that still many unhappy beings were yet to be saved. After struggling to comprehend the needs of so many, his head splits into 11 pieces. Amitabha, seeing his plight, gives him 11 heads with which to hear the cries of the suffering...

Four-armed sword wielding Virabhadra is a manifestation of Shiva. In this form, he decapitated the demigod Daksha who had insulted him, but in doing so, he interrupted the demigod's sacrifice by which all beings are created. Virabhadra later revived Daksha by replacing his head with that of a goat, thus ensuring the demigod survived and the continuance of creation...

Architectural element --- probably the end of a beam --- carved in the shape of a stylized lion. Wood, with fine dark brown patina. Nepal, 18th century, maybe earlier. Length: 22 cm. Height: 10.5 cm. The back of the element was partly attacked by insects, but there is no more danger. The element is nicely counted on a custom stand. Good condition.

Miniature statue of Buddha Gautama, in formal attire, wearing diadem, a lotus flower beside each shoulder, his hands in "dharmacakra mudra", sitting cross-legged on a lotus throne. Bronze, with fine reddish-green patina. Tibet, 17th century, maybe earlier. Height: 4.9 cm. Erosion due to great age, otherwise very good condition...

Bi faced "ghurra" (churning rod holder) finely carved to represent a back to back, squatting, human couple, man opposite woman. Wood, with nice dark brown glossy patina. The ghurra was carved in Nepal, and is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Its height (without the stand) is 22.7 cm. Very good condition. NOTE: The ghurra is a tool which has been used for centuries by Nepali people for churning milk into butter...

Until the mid 1900's, transporting goods along the silk road was accomplished by camel caravans ...and it was important not to lose the camels in sand storms along the way... Each camel from Tibet was "adorned" with 3 bells...one large bell hang from a strap around the camel's belly, a 2nd bell was strapped around the neck, and the 3rd bell was hung from the camels tail. This old camel's bell was used on the caravans travailing between Tibet, across China and into Mongolia...

Head of Citipati, made of embossed bronze with gilding on the front and red painting to enhance the eyes. Fine green patina in the recesses and on the back. The head is pierced on its top and lower side to allow not to be worn on a necklace that was used by a Tibetan lama or oracle particularly during the Cham ceremonies and dances. Tibet, early 19th century. Height: 7.5 cm. Very good condition.

Very old anthropomorphic statue of a deity protecting a household, staying on a circular base, with an expressive face and hands in praying posture. Eroded wood, age patina. Nepal, 19th century. Height: 33.3 cm. The statue is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Collected in the early seventies in the Himalayan region.

Finely cast small statue of Krishna depicted, according to tradition, as a mischievous boy, reclining and stealing the butter ball. Krishna is wearing a diadem, at the back of which is a loop suggesting that this statue was originally used as a pendant. Bronze, with with partly encrusted reddish green patina, with traces off ritual material. Nepal, 17th century. Length: 4.9 cm. height: 4.3 cm. Very good condition.

THANGKA

Tibetan Buddhist thangka painting on silk and cotton fabric mounted as a portable scroll for the monk who visit the villages and use it for telling Buddhist doctrine or Buddha's biography to the people. 18th century. Rare valued piece with calm and mercy. The condition is as seen. (lack of a rod, but attached with a gut for hanging) approx...

Gilt iron plate, of rounded triangular shape, finely cast in openwork, to represent a dragon in relief in clouds. Four coral inlays enhance the beauty of the plate. This plate is likely to have been part of a saddle decoration. Tibet, 18th century. The plate is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Length: 15.6 cm. Height: around 9 cm. Oxydation at the back due to age, otherwise very good condition.

Ink on paper. 50x 50 cm. undated, estimated to be 20th century or earlier. Can be viewed in central London and shipped worldwide.

Hand painted on cotton mounted on wood with metal bound corners, metal hanging ring, decorated paper on reverse. Undated, estimated to be late 19th century or earlier. 35 x 35 cm. Can be viewed in central London and shipped worldwide.

Hand written Nepalese manuscript. Undated estimated to be 17/18th century or earlier. Anointing marks on cover, one illustration, 70 sides of text, each 20x 7.5 cm. No loose pages. Can be viewed in central London and shipped worldwide.

light wood, white pigment, hands in praying gesture, collection number "AJP996" at the back of the head, min. dam., minor missing parts, fine cracks, breakages (right shoulder/leg), traces of insect caused damage (above all at the bottom of the base) H: 49 cm, H: 19,3 inch Provenance: Jean-Paul Agogue, Paris, France Zemanek Münster 80th Tribal Art Auction Lot 2 (2015)

Four different pages from a 17th/18th century Tibetan manuscript, painted on thick paper each with four images of Goddesses holding various attributes with traces of inscriptions beneath each. Largest 36 x 13 cm. sewn cloth at top. Some damage and losses as shown. Can be viewed in central London and shipped worldwide.

8 Pages of a Tibetan painted manuscript. 5 paintings of Demons on each page. Undated, estimated to be 17th century or earlier. Approx size 28x 12 cm. Edges damaged and some paint loss, check images closely, can be viewed in central London and shipped worldwide.

DESCRIPTION: An antique hand-painted ceremonial drum with vivid motifs of large flowers with curling green tendrils against a red ground. Both ends of the drum are covered in animal hide and secured with round-headed metal studs. This highly decorative drum makes a perfect little end table, or adds a touch of exotic to any décor. Very good condition with minor rubbing in spots. DIMENSIONS: 16 5/8” high (42.2 cm) x 15 5/8” diameter (39.6 cm).