Antique Ritual

Berry bowls were therefore more than small serving dishes; they formed part of a domestic ritual in which the presentation of food was considered as important as its preparation.

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...

The central band features larger anthropomorphic figures with outstretched arms, possibly evoking communal unity or ritual dances. Interwoven with these are fantastical animals, some...

Kalachakra is traditionally represented with multiple faces and numerous arms, each incorporating ritual implements and attributes associated with different aspects of enlightened ac...

Scholar’s implements belong to the prestigious vocabulary of Chinese auspicious arts, celebrating knowledge and the triumph of learning, while ritual ribbons amplify wishes for favor...

The combination of graceful form and intricate ornamentation makes it both a functional ritual object and an outstanding work of decorative art.

Historically, betelnut boxes were significant in Burmese culture, used to store areca nuts and other offerings during social and ritual gatherings. Crafted from lacquerware, a mate...

Typically depicting irregular geometric, anthropomorphic or zoomorphic forms, they are closely associated with Mayan religion and its elite ritual contexts. Many were deposited as ri...

This function gives the type particular archaeological and ritual significance. The vessel has a globular body resting on a ring foot, a tall cylindrical neck and an everted rim.

The imagery decorating these vessels frequently reflected this predominantly male environment, drawing upon mythology, athletics, warfare, ritual and scenes of everyday life. The pr...

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...

Weighing 7.7 kg and measuring 44 cm wide and 32.5 cm deep, this temple is designed to hold sacred objects, emphasizing its role in spiritual rituals. The historical significance of t...

Indeed, it is the reduced scale that suggests a ritual purpose rather than utilitarian one. Cf. Cypriot juglet, The British Museum, acc. no. 1894,1101.15.

Traditionally played in pairs during monastic ceremonies, religious festivals and ritual processions, these long telescopic horns produce a deep, resonant tone said to echo across mo...

Oil lamps have been integral to Indian traditions, often used in rituals and celebrations to symbolize the removal of darkness and the arrival of knowledge.

It has also been proposed that these horse votives may have fulfilled a particular ritual function, perhaps comparable in principle to the modern custom of throwing a coin into a fou...

The interior retains its original character, with compartments for ink wells, pens, and correspondence—an intimate glimpse into 19th century daily life and the rituals of letter writ...

Buddha mandalas have traditionally served as important aids for meditation, visualization and ritual practice. Rather than functioning purely as decorative images, they provide pract...

Within Tibetan Buddhist tradition, White Tara holds particular significance in practices associated with longevity, healing and protection. Through meditation, ritual and mantra reci...

Within Tibetan Buddhist practice, mandalas serve as important aids for meditation, visualization and ritual, providing practitioners with a symbolic map of the path toward enlightene...

Indian oil lamps, or diyas, have been used for centuries during various festivals and rituals, serving as symbols of light overcoming darkness and ignorance.

The materials and artistic techniques utilized reflect the cultural narratives and rituals that have persisted through centuries. As this statue has survived over a hundred years, ...

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.

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

The composition features elegant figural scenes of courtly life, where noblemen and ladies engage in tea rituals and conversation, offering a glimpse into refined social customs of i...

The importance of the collection lies not only in the beauty of the glass and labels, but in the way these humble commercial vessels preserve the language, aspirations and daily ritu...

Excellent antique condition overall - the piece retains a warm, rich patina born from generations of devotional handling, with natural rubbing and gilding loss exposing the underlyin...

Such offerings were historically used in religious and ceremonial practices, often placed in temples or used during rituals to honor deities and spirits. The use of lacquerware dates...

These paintings were not originally intended as everyday decorative art, but rather as spiritual anchors for domestic Confucian cult rituals (jesa). They were meant to be reverenced,...

Rather than functioning simply as decoration, a mandala represents an ordered sacred realm and traditionally serves as an aid to meditation, visualization and ritual practice. The c...

This staggering chest of drawers would have originally had the dual-purpose uses of household/temple storage as well as its top being used as an altar for daily worship rituals. It w...

Hyakumanben Nembutsu Juzu refers to the giant prayer beads used in the Buddhist ritual known as "Hyakumanben Nembutsu". Several people sit in a circle, hold the huge juzu together, a...

An exceptional and highly decorative early 20th-century antique Indian "Cheppu" (lidded ritual and dowry box), hailing from the historic, culturally rich Kerala region in Southwester...

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

Within Tibetan Buddhist practice, mandalas function as sophisticated aids for meditation, visualization and ritual. The practitioner symbolically journeys from the outer boundaries t...

The mandala is one of the most significant symbolic forms within Tibetan Buddhism, representing an idealized sacred universe and providing a sophisticated visual framework for medita...

The mandala is one of the most important symbolic and ritual forms within Tibetan Buddhism, representing an idealized sacred universe and providing a sophisticated visual framework f...

His characteristic crossed hands hold a vajra, or ritual thunderbolt, and a bell, symbolic attributes representing the inseparable union of method and wisdom.

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

Created by the Chin peoples of western Burma, such poles served as important ritual and commemorative monuments within traditional village life.

Historically, oil lamps like this one have been integral to Indian households, used in religious rituals and daily life to symbolize the dispelling of darkness and the welcoming of l...

Ancient literary sources associate such suspended objects with religious and agricultural festivities, although in the Roman Imperial period their function appears to have combined r...

The twelve butter pats are charming examples of French tableware created for the refined rituals of formal dining. Their intimate size was designed to hold an individual portion of b...

Many Chimú cults and rituals were oriented toward promoting fertility in the fields, given the aridity of the territory, and closely linked religion and politics.

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.

Such artifacts are often embedded with local stories and histories, serving as a connection to the traditions and rituals of Indian spirituality. As you light a candle within, the g...

Numerous miniature figures, landscapes, buildings, animals and ritual imagery reward close examination, while the monumental figure surrounding the wheel gives the work a powerful ov...

Indeed, it is the reduced scale that suggests a ritual purpose rather than utilitarian one. Cf. Miniature pottery vase, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, acc. no. 34-30-4...

The composition is centered around a catafalque draped in rich red fabric, before which dignitaries clad in white togas gather in solemn contemplation, while other figures quietly wi...

Ancestor portraits played an important role in Chinese family life and ritual, preserving the likeness and status of family members for future generations.

Copper altars such as this one have historically been used in Hindu rituals and celebrations. They serve as sacred sites for worship, reflecting India's deep-rooted spiritual traditi...

The design of the lamp reflects the rich artistic traditions of India, where such pieces were often used in religious ceremonies and household rituals. The portrayal of Lakshmi is si...

Guru Rinpoche remains one of the most widely venerated figures across Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan and the Himalayan regions of India, and his image continues to occupy an important place in...

The coffee pot speaks of warmth, gathering, and the ritual of serving, while the basin recalls food preparation, washing, and the many quiet tasks that sustained domestic life.

Traditionally associated with the Chin peoples of western Burma, such poles served as important ritual and commemorative monuments within the community.

Traditionally used for religious rituals or to create a peaceful atmosphere in home decor.

In Burmese tradition, offering vessels like this one are used in spiritual rituals, serving as containers for offerings to deities or spirits, symbolizing respect and devotion.

This is very common in Mezcala style pieces, which do not usually exceed 20 cm and were intended to be part of the attire, whether ritual or symbolic, the only exception being archit...

Containing the psychoactive alkaloid nuciferine, its essence was infused into oils and wine used in rituals dedicated to Hathor, the goddess of love, pleasure, and intoxication.

Indeed, it is the reduced scale that suggests a ritual purpose rather than utilitarian one. Cf. Blackware juglet, Frances Lehman Loeb Art Centre, no.