Antique Ritual

The use of such boxes reflects local customs and the importance of betelnut in social gatherings and rituals. Lacquerware in Burma dates back centuries, known for its durability and...

Dawenkou–Longshan Culture, Shandong Province, China, c. 3000–2000 BCE Terracotta tripod vessel known as a Gui (鬶), representing one of the earliest ritual ceramic forms developed in ...

These heavy glasses were used in French bistros, bars, and cafes, in the ritual of drinking the addictive beverage called, ‘la fée verte’ – the green fairy.

This is a verybrare example of a 19th century ritually used Zulu Knobkerrie. Carved from very dense wood and complete with wire binding demonstrating the status of the owner.

A powerful and ethnographically significant example of Central African ritual sculpture, this nail-studded zoomorphic figure is a Kozo — a Janus-headed dog nkisi (power object) of th...

Frequently discovered in tombs and sanctuaries, they are also thought to have served as votive or funerary offerings, symbolic representations of sustenance or ritual practice. Indee...

During Joseon dynasty, the social morals were largely centered on the principles of Confucianism that originated from China. Many ritual ceramic wares were produced for rituals and w...

Betelnut, a significant part of Burmese culture, has been chewed for centuries for its stimulant effects and social rituals. The use of such boxes became widespread among various com...

It also has a great deal of ritual wear, especially on the high points. The surface has been softened down from handling over a very long period of time, which somehow makes the figu...

The panel’s provenance is further enhanced by photographs of the original temple chariot from which it came, connecting the piece directly to its ritual context. Ideal for collectors...

18/19thC Tibetan Buddhist Ritual Implements Set in Triangular Iron Box An exceptional and rare antique Tibetan Buddhist ritual implements set, finely cast in iron or steel, housed i...

The pieces are very diverse, including vessels, human figures, animals, architectural models, and ritual objects. All were buried for the afterlife, their locations forgotten over t...

Dallahs of this type occupied an important place within the social rituals of the Levant and Gulf regions, where the preparation and serving of coffee symbolised generosity, hospital...

One of the monks adopts the Namaskara pose, symbolizing respect and reverence, which is essential in Buddhist rituals and teachings. The meticulous detailing, from the textures of th...

Elegant, practical, and exceptionally sophisticated, this rare three-piece ensemble reflects the ritual and refinement of early 20th-century gentlemanly travel and smoking culture.

Indeed, it is the reduced scale that suggests a ritual purpose rather than utilitarian one. Cf.

Traditionally used for the burning of incense during religious ceremonies, official events, or domestic rituals, objects of this type were also appreciated as decorative pieces due t...

While the face is obscured from significant ritual wear from more than a millennia of devotion, the sculpture retains remarkable authority and presence.

Betelnut chewing has deep cultural significance in Burmese society, often associated with social gatherings and rituals, elevating this box beyond mere utility and into the realm of ...

The surface has exactly the kind of wear I hope for on old ritual objects. Not over-cleaned, not overly preserved, just honestly aged. .

This connection to communal rituals further enhances its significance as a piece of cultural heritage.

The panel is not just a decorative piece; it serves as an embodiment of spirituality, often used in temple rituals and processions. The goddess is portrayed with exquisite details, s...

Historically, temple chariots are significant in Indian religious practices, often used in processions during festivals and rituals. They are adorned with various artistic elements t...

Indeed, it is the reduced scale that suggests a ritual purpose rather than utilitarian one. Cf.

Instead of being buried deep underground with the deceased, haniwa occupied and marked the open surfaces of the colossal tombs but as the tombs were sacred, ritualized spaces they we...

Christ kneels on the left, his semi-nude body wrapped in a white cloth, his head encircled by a gilded halo; to the right, John the Baptist holds in his right hand the reed with the ...

Bronze bells such as this were integral to ritual practices, court ceremonies, and ancestral worship, serving both musical and symbolic functions.

A wonderful antique/ancient terracotta clay made Japanese ritual burial funeray full body Haniwa dancing sculpture.

The open, elongated spout and robust assembly reflect a vessel intended for repeated use within the ritual of serving Arabic coffee, where craftsmanship and function were inseparable.

The figures were made from terracotta clay for ritual use as funerary objects, and they were created according to the wazumi technique, in which mounds of coiled clay were built up t...

The combination of these auspicious symbols transforms the incense burner into an object of both ritual function and artistic expression. The pierced cover demonstrates a remarkable...

The Burmese altar serves not only a decorative purpose, but an essentially spiritual one, intended to intensify the spiritual and sacred atmosphere of Buddhist rituals. Its historica...

This sculptural object is the lid to a Ming-dynasty (1368-1644) offering jar from Yunnan province, a Buddhist vessel for ritual offerings such as coins, shells, flowers and grains.

Originally likely used for storing herbs, medicines, pigments, documents or small ritual objects, this compact chest combines practically with sculptural appeal.

A lively depiction of a post-banya ritual, showing figures plunging into the snow after bathing.

Antique Tibetan Tantric Ritual Mirror in Copper and Bronze, 18th/19th Century or Earlier An extraordinary and highly refined Tibetan Tantric ritual mirror, dating to the 18th/19th c...

This sculptural object is the lid to a Yuan-dynasty (1271-1368) offering jar from Yunnan province, a Buddhist vessel for ritual offerings such as coins, shells, flowers and grains.

This archaistic silhouette draws inspiration from ancient bronze ritual vessels (Hu). True Ge and Guan wares originated during the Song Dynasty as highly prized ceramics for the Imp...

Indeed, it is the reduced scale that suggests a ritual purpose rather than utilitarian one. Cf.

It may once have functioned as a “tamari-ishi,” water stone, ritual object, or vessel of some kind, though its original purpose is ultimately unknown.

In time, the local form of Christianity blurred increasingly with traditional beliefs and Christian symbols became emblems of power and instruments in local ritual. The Musee du Quai...

The two plates present a fascinating collection of classical mirrors, bronze vessels, ritual utensils, ornamental objects, ceremonial implements, and domestic antiquities inspired by...

Boli Fetish, Bamana, Mali Wood, ritual substances, feathers, composite materials Early 20th century Provenance: Merton D.

The surface shows honest wear consistent with age and ritual handling, reinforcing the sculpture’s authenticity and devotional history.

Animal-form vessels of this type were associated with ritual practices within prehistoric China, reflecting the symbolic relationship between nature, spirituality, and daily life.

Examples of this type were likely used for ritual or ceremonial purposes, including religious rites.

The pieces are very diverse, including vessels, human figures, animals, architectural models, and ritual objects. All were buried for the afterlife, their locations forgotten over t...

In all these regions, the bull was considered an animal of chthonic significance, associated with fertility and vegetation, and also with funerary rituals. Bull worship was especiall...

During the late Ming and early Qing periods, private kilns produced sophisticated interpretations of archaic ritual wares that blended antiquarian taste with contemporary craftsmansh...

They appeared on household altars, scholar's desks, incense burners and ritual stands, serving both devotional and decorative purposes.

The figure displays multiple arms in various ritual postures, exhibiting great dynamism and compositional balance.

The elevated stem and sweeping loop handles suggest both ceremonial and practical functions, possibly related to ritual presentation or the serving of liquids during communal gatheri...

Basins of this type likely served both ritual and domestic functions within early agrarian communities.

Vessels of this type were used for storage, ritual offerings, and funerary purposes within early agrarian communities.

The pieces are very diverse, including vessels, human figures, animals, architectural models, and ritual objects. All were buried for the afterlife, their locations forgotten over t...

Jars of this type were likely used for storage, ritual activity, or funerary purposes within early agrarian communities.

Its silhouette — somewhere between garment, ritual object, and wall sculpture — brings a sense of stillness and organic texture into a space.