Folk Art Metalwork

An exceptional antique Tibetan Buddhist monastery ritual / ceremonial goat skull and horn kapala. Tibet, 19th century, used in shamanic Buddhist Tantra, hand-crafted from a real hor...

A remarkable pair of Thai Ayutthaya period bronze crowned Buddha mounted on wood display stands. Thailand. 17th/18th Century Dimensions: (approx) Head: 15" High, 7.75" Wide, 6" Deep (tallest) Overall: tbd Provenance / Acquisition: Acquired from the highly reputable auction house Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas. 2024 March Fine & Decorative Asian Art Signature Catalog Auction #8155 Lot #78357 Condition Report: Attractive pair with beautifully aged patina, condition commensurate of age, use, and exposure. Scattered areas of desirable verdigris green patina and oxidation throughout to each. Minor loss to front shell point of one example. Small holes scattered throughout and scews/nails through each fixing both examples to wooden bases. Both well preserved and present superbly History: The first Crowned Buddha images or Jambupati Buddha statues are known to have been originated from the Pyu, where the Indian influence of Buddhist arts and non-Theravada Buddhism was extremely felt in those days. There may have been various background stories behind the crowned Buddha statues in the course of history but one of the most popular stories goes by the legend of Jambupati. This particular legend is not known in the home of Buddhism India, however the crowned Buddha statues have been attached to the name Jambupati as the Buddha is believed to have humbled a boastful and arrogant king Jambupati. The story goes on about how the Buddha transformed himself into a mighty king with a crown and jewelry and set himself a majestic yet incomparable palace. Seeing this, the king accepted the great ability of the Buddha and submitted himself to the Dharma and became a Buddhist monk. This particular story has gained a lot of popularity and stood the test of time in Burma as the number of Crowned Buddha statues in Burma is considerably great in amount. There are also other versions of the background story of crowned statues...

Antique hindu bronze Temple horse and chariot statue toy on wheels. This collectible bronze temple toy horse is heavy and the sculptural details are full of artisanal charm and irregularities. The wheels turn independently of the iron axles, and it has clearly been loved and well used by generations of children. Antique cast brass iron horse and chariot Indian temple toy. The horse and chariot both have wonderful detail, the wheels roll freely. This unique Hindu temple toy piece is: 5. 1/2" tall and 8" long x 4.5 " Wide. In great condition with a nice aged patina. Handcrafted in India, would make a beautiful statement on a desk or bookshelf. Commonly known as "Temple Toys," these cast brass figures date back to the early-to-Mid-19th Century India. They were mainly used as devotional donations for Khanodba and Shiva in Central India, as well as Ayyannar and Karuppan in Tamil Nadu. Dating from the last half of the 19th century, this was a temple offering, left by the devout at Hindu temples this bronze temple toy would have been given to the children waiting for their parents during temple services in India. Since ancient times, a person was held in high esteem for the donation of a horse or other animal to one of the Gods. It was believe that these bronze figures allowed the God to come to the aid of the devotee in times of need. These figures would be left as offerings in a nearby temple, where children would often find them and use them as toys; hence the name "Temple Toy. " Antique East Indian Temple Toys, Devotional Shrine Brass Horse and Chariot on Wheels, Hindu, Collectible, Cast Metal Horse, Museum. Cast bronze horse with elaborate caparisoned high pommelled saddle and trappings, and a braided mane and tail, the legs ending in wheeled axels the chariot. From the Art collection of Marian and John Scott. Acquisition date: 1969. Purchased from the amazing private collection of Mark Lissauer who spent his life collecting niche ethnographic pieces. About Mark Lissauer: Mark Lissauer spent forty years travelling abroad for months at a time collecting ethnographic artefacts primarily from New Guinea and the islands of the West Pacific, and from Asia and Himalayan countries. Fluent in five languages and having in the course of business travelled to more than forty countries, Mark is well-known to museums and art-collectors around the world for his long career and his interesting and diverse collection of rare ethnographic material. Mark knows the origin and symbolism of each piece. Through extensive research and more than ninety trips around the globe, Mark familiarised himself with the traditions of the various cultures he visited in order to understand the meaning of each object to its region and tribe. His home has a specialist library and several rooms are filled with tribal carvings, textiles and ethnographica. He acquired his first tribal piece in 1948 during a business trip to Milne Bay, New Guinea, and has since documented the acquisition of some 35,000 items. Several thousands of these have been sold to important private collections and museums worldwide, including the Rockefeller Museum, the British Museum and the Musée National des Arts d’Afrique et d’Océanie, now incorporated into the Louvre Museum. Estimator by Wayne Heathcote Tribal Art Dealer and Expert. Heathcote has a flash gallery in Brussels, where much of the tribal art business is centred, and is an expert at Sotheby's tribal art sale...

Large Southeast Burmese Bronze Asian Rain Drum Side Table: This impressive 30-inch diameter Asian cast bronze rain drum features intricate detailing with traditional geometric relief...

Large Southeast Burmese Bronze Asian Rain Drum Side Table: This impressive 22-inch diameter Asian cast bronze rain drum features intricate detailing with traditional geometric relief...

Beautiful handcrafted antique tinned copper decorative octagonal betel box with with lid, handle and brass latch. The metal is delicately and int...

A late 19th or early 20th century Indian brass betel nut cutter from the North Western regions. This is a betel-nut cutter made of brass using casting technique with bird motifs and...

Antique Brass Betel Nut Cutter from India Collectible Asian Artifact This excellent piece of art from India, made in solid brass, nut slicer or nut cracker which is two halves made w...

Antique Brass Betel Nut Cutter from India Collectible Asian Artifact. Add a touch of cultural and historical significance to your collection with this antique Indian Sarota or Betel ...

19th Century Japanese cast iron teapot or tetsubin of cube form with anchor chain handle, one side cast with a navel anchor continuing around the back and to the top where the top ri...

Antique hindu bronze Temple horse and chariot statue toy on wheels. Commonly known as "Temple Toys," these cast brass figures date back to the early-to-Mid...

Antique 18th 19th Century Palanquin Mythical Lion or Tiger Finial Bronze Handle. Large heavy Indian Mythological bronze palanquin fitting cast via the lost wax technique, beautifully stylized and crafted in the form of protective mythological creature. Palanquin finials were used to adorn the pole ends of the palanquin or palki. A fine and massive example of a palanquin pole finial with good detail and fine patina. India, circa: 18th/19thc. The Palanquin handle...

Handcrafted decorative vintage collectible brass duck shape sculpture. Beautiful handcrafted large cast polished brass bird form. Vintage large heavy soli...

Antique cast bronze carved animal camel leg anklet bell Folk Art. Handcrafted cast metal camel bracelet which was used by the Bedouin people to tie to the camel leg. Antique collectible bronze camel or horse ornamental beautification anklet. The anklet has a beautiful embossed design with straight holes around. It is hollow with small beads that make a very pleasant sound when the animal walks. It is tied with a leather belt. Collectible camel anklet...

Inspired by a scene from Ramakian or Ramayan, the Indian epic Rama and Sita. Antique Indian Temple Toy bronze camel on wheels. Antique hindu bronze temple camel with rider statue toy on wheels. Commonly known as "Temple Toys...

Antique brass baby rattle whistle bell dangles, India. Handcrafted baby rattle in openwork designs with whistle handle and three decorative bell dangles. ...

Large Phurba ornate with semi precious stones, like turquoise and red stones incrusted in brass metal. The Phurba or Kila: the most potent of wrathful ritual implements in Vajrayana...

Antique Hindu make up vermilion and eye liner brass box holder. This is an antique Mughal style brass Indian ornate locking Tikka box container. It has ...

A medium sized antique cast brass measuring bowl from northern India. High relief casting, bundled rope maker's mark on the bottom. Bronze rice-mea...

From the Ramakien a Thai Ramayana. A scene from Ramakian or Ramayan, the Indian epic Lakshman riding in a chariot along with Rama and Sita sitting in the back. After his victory over Ravana, Sri Rama prepares to leave for Ayodhya, Rama now told Vibheeshan that there was just one more day...

Large Asian Burmese brass ceremonial bowl with silver and copper inlaid with the ten Hindu Avatars of Vishnu. Fine example of Tanjore work, this brass bowl that has been overlaid with alternating copper and silver chased plaques, with high quality in detail executed in mixed metal repoussé with contrasting patination, showing Hindu deities. The base is engraved with a lotus flower motif. (This type of work is known as Tanjore work, after the south Indian city where much of this work was executed.) The depictions on the main plaques are believed to relate to those seen carved in relief on rock on the façade off the Great Temple (Brihadisvara) in Tanjore. A southern Indian magnificent silver and copper inlaid vase, 19th century Tapered and chased body made of copper inlaid with beaded bands and with the ten avatars of Vishnu: 1. Matsya (the fish) 2. Koorma (the tortoise) 3. Varaha (the boar) 4. Narasimha (the human-lion – shown on this bowl as a lion-man figure about to devour a human victim.) 5. Vamana (the dwarf) 6. Parasurama (the angry man – presented on this bowl as a figure with an axe, a bow and an arrow.) 7. Rama (the perfect man, king of Ayodha) 8. Krishna (the divine statesman – shown here as Krishna on a cobra throne...

19th century Middle Eastern Arabian tinned copper Dallah coffee pot. Antique decorative Arabic coffee pot hand-hammered and chased copper with riveted b...

Raj large hand-hammered and hand-painted metal vessel, originally used to collect waters of the three sacred rivers, the Ganges and Yamuna Sarasvati. This large jug is much more than...

19th century Anglo Raj Mughal bronzed metal copper vessel water or milk bucket. Originally used to carry water, this hand-hammered metal vessel from India ...