Carved bone chessmen patterned after Nepalese and Indian royalty and their subjects make up this mid-20th century bone chess set from Nepal. Both kings wear elaborate costumes. One of them is carved with multiple mustachioed faces; the other is in hunting regalia with his long hair hanging down his back. The buxom queens have heavy brows and wear patterned head scarves. Knights are winged horses, rooks are elephants, bishops are camels, and pawns are long-haired attendants in uniform. These han... Click for details
A carved teak jewelry box with secret compartments and deep carving on richly grained teakwood has the medieval aura of Bhaktapur, Nepal's old city of lavishly carved courtyards in the shadows of the Himalayas. The construction of the box is intriguing, with its 14 compartments, four of them hidden behind a sliding panel that is cleverly integrated with the carving pattern to disguise the entry to secret trays. Carvings of dragons on the lid and two sides, and of a peacock and lotus flowers on e... Click for details
A fine pair of nitties, which are used to hold churning sticks in the process of making butter from Nepali hill minorities. Nice worn patina (especially in the hole) with that great smokey yak butter smell much beloved by aficionados of Himalayan antiques. Circa 60 to 90 years old, the one on the right appears to be older. No kitchen should be without these! The left one is H: 21cm/8.2in and the right one is H: 22.7cm/9in.
Details: A 16th century example of the deity Bhairava carved from wood. Bhairava is Shiva at his most terrifying, at his most fearful. He may be understood as an emanation of Shiva, or as Shiva displaying himself at a very high level. In some myths, Shiva created Bhairava as an extension of himself, in order to chastise Brahma. Bhairava is the embodiment of fear, and it is said that those who meet him must confront the source of their own fears. ... Click for details
Two magnificent and rare end-pieces in the shape of lion-like animal heads. The pieces were held by pegs to the end of the beams in a construction. The heads show fangs and mane and curled horns. In their mouths they hold a rope or cord connected to an object that is no longer there, as if they are pulling or holding up something that was on the beam or on the building. Single piece of wood, decorated with the typical colors of red, white and green and some ochre decorations on the horns. Tibet,... Click for details
