South Asian Folk Art

Antique Indian Embroidered Kantha Cloth Indian kantha cloths originally developed as a way in which old sari cloth could be recycled and put to use. They’re usually composed of 3-4 ...

A truly gorgeous, quite large and decorative, engaging South Indian Asian (India) Pichwai and/or gouache painting in a heavy two-sided acrylic frame featuring an evening Maharaja roy...

Vintage Raj embroidered large camel toy, India, 1950. Handmade in Rajasthan, India, colorful fabric camel toy. Vintage oversized camel stuffed cotton embroidered and decorated with...

Antique Tanjore Indian painting of Laxmi, the goddess of beauty, wealth and prosperity. She sits resplendently on a lotus flower, symbol of enlightenment. The elephants playfully spr...

WEST NEPAL  TRIBAL Mask  A OLD MASK WITH  ENIGMATIC PIERCING GAZE, SUPERB AGED PATINA, PERIOD   early 20th CENTURY, HEIGHT 32 CM

Small bronze serene standing figure, a Hindu God, lost wax casting. 19th Century. 1 1/2" x 1" x 3 3/4" H. Whitehall Antiques is a family business that has b...

Eden Hashish Centre Ganesh poster by acclaimed Indian artist S. Murugakani. with original 1974 calendar attached. Framed in custom brass framed glass frame and tin back, with hange...

Embark on a visual journey with this Hand Knotted Rug , a tapestry of cultural echoes that transcend time. Like ancient tales inscribed in geometric poetry, this rug's complex design...

Vintage Rajasthani Patchwork Tapestry, handcrafted, of several small irregular embroidered “patches” heavily embroidered with gold and silver paper-wrapped threads couched down in a multitude of colors, some with reflective mirror...

Nice Vintage Asian Indian ethnic Tibetan Silver coral Necklace Ladakh Typical Ladakh ethnic Himalayan Tibetan Traditional necklace 850 grade silver with coral beads Conditi...

The bell of the VOC fortress in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, marked JAFFANAPATNAM Ao 1747 VOC Cast in Jaffnapatnam or Colombo from Japanese copper, 1747 Measures: Height 44 x diameter 36...

Nepal Ritual Mask Himalayan Asian art antiques  A fine old Nepalese ritual mask of Shiva with moustache Hard dense wood with aged patina and traces of pigments Height 23 cm Perio...

Enchant your living space with the allure of this stunning hand tufted rug from our Mythos collection, it's a masterpiece that seamlessly blends intricate design with an exotic color...

A multi-coloured stone Shiva Lingam, a elongated egg shaped stone used for Shaivite worship in Hindu rituals These heavy stones are sacred and come from the Narmada River in In...

Oval dance mask from Nepal with powerful expression, open eyes and oval mouth with finely carved teeth, nicely carved ears. Heavy black encrusted patina inside and out from tradition...

Antique Indian Hindu Shiva Brass Votive Head – 19th Century Beautiful 19th-century brass votive head of Lord Shiva, finely cast with detailed moustache and turban. This larger form ...

Antique carved and decorated ship's figurehead, circa 1890, depicting a regal bird with a beak. The sculpture is in original paint. Although there has been much paint loss and age cr...

A large scale carved wood sculpture with extraordinary detail. The entire piece represents Krishna on his peace mission and preparation for war with the hostile Duryodhana. Later in triumph, here Krishna is the charioteer for the famed Archer Arjuna who rides in the Palaquin at back, in prayer and with his Bow and Arrow lying in front. The god Hanuman, with his monkey face and hiding a prayer scepter sits under an arch, flanked by carved peacocks. The chariot is drawn by four horses and the Palaquin has an elaborate top. Every inch has carved decorative details. The entire piece is mounted on a carved base with leafy details and scalloped base edge. Protected in a custom Plexiglass Display Case...

Fine rare Antique Indian Hindu Mughal style Jade bracelet Period early 20th century Fine quality Indian jade decorated with silver and semi precious stones Condition: natural lin...

A wonderful, highly erotic, rather fascinating, and somewhat unique large pair of Indian (India) Kama Sutra bronze sculptural figures (The Kama Sutra is an ancient Indian Sanskrit text on sexuality, eroticism, and emotional fulfillment in life.) Nicely detailed with a gorgeous patina that is only acquired over time. From an estate of a world traveler art and artifacts collector. The sculpture is relatively heavy. Would be a great addition to any Indian/ South East Asian art...

Vintage Rajasthani Indian vaulted dowry jewelry box, hand painted with Indian lovers enjoying each other, while beautiful court musicians accompany them ...

Condition: Original Vintage Condition Materials: Hand-Knotted Wool This vintage Persian Afshar tribal rug, handwoven in Iran, showcases a striking geometric medallion design with i...

Are you seeking to adorn your space with a tapestry of unparalleled elegance? Look no further than Lirio, a masterpiece from the Woven Gems collection by and artist Jocelyn Burton. W...

This 8' x 10' hand-tufted wool and viscose rug from Jaipur Rugs features a striking combination of tulip purple and dark gray, offering a bold yet elegant aesthetic. The contemporary...

A charming pair of antique Indian teak "dog gates" with iron bars from the early 20th century that were skillfully repainted at some point with elephant and l...

This exquisite White Sapphire Buddha head sculpture from India embodies serenity and elegance. Carved with exceptional precision, the crystal-clear bri...

Anglo Indian hardwood campaign or dowry chest. This has brass straps, handles and large hinges on the interior. The lock has the original key. The chest is in good condition. It show...

Vintage Raj Hand-Crafted Stuffed Cotton Embroidered Elephant, India, 1950. Anglo Raj vintage hand-crafted stuffed cotton embroidered elephant, India, 1950. Handmade in Rajasthan, India, colorful fabric elephant toy. Vintage small elephant stuffed cotton embroidered and decorated with small mirrors, great collector piece. Anglo Raj, small stuffed elephant...

Vintage wooden Indian toy horse on wheels, circa 1970s. The piece has a latch in the front that allows you to rotate the top portion open to a hidden storage compartment. The horse i...

The sculpture, expertly carved from fragrant Nepalese sandalwood, stands as a testament to the rich tradition of wood carving in Nepal. The medium itself adds a sensory dimension to ...

Embark on a visual journey with this wool rug from our Aprezo collection. The rug's aesthetic is a testament to artistry, with a pattern that delicately intertwines, resembling the p...

3L Shatranj chess set by Madheke Dimensions: W 54.8 D 54.8 H 9.5 cm Materials: Leather, Metal, Wood Inspired by the Bentley 3-Litre, the 3L Shatranj pays homage to the engineeri...

South Indian carved wood sculpture depicting the Hindu Deity of Nandi, a recumbent black bull figure, known within the Hindu faith as the vehicle for Siva, often depicted in sculptur...

A monumental Hindu Nandi temple gate-guardian architectural ornament, born in India, dating to the 19th century, hand carved and painted, richly detailed, polychrome decorated, the wooden sculpture depicting Nandi, a sacred bull, gatekeeper, and vahana religious deity figure. Provenance: Acquired from The Neiman Marcus Corporate Art Collection. Details below. Dimensions: (approx) 49.5" x 43" x 12" An important religious folk art work, the Nandi is of carved wood and gessoed cloth, then hand-painted. In Hindu religion, Nandi is the mythical mount of Shiva. The four legs represent truth, righteousness, peace and love. More than a means of conveyance, Nandi is considered Shiva's constant companion on all his travels, so much so that in any temple dedicated to Shiva, there is a sculpture of Nandi. This symbol is a deity in its own right, and in India there are temples dedicated exclusively to Nandi. In Hindu symbolism, the bull represents both strength and ignorance. The white or light color of the bull symbolizes purity and justice. Symbolically, the seated Nandi towards sanctum in Shiva temples, represents an individual jiva (soul) and the message that the jiva should always be focused on the Parameshwara. From the yogic perspective, Nandi is the mind dedicated to Shiva, the absolute. In other words, to understand and absorb light, the experience, and the wisdom is Nandi, which is the guru within. The fact that Shiva uses it as a mount symbolizes how this divine figure removes ignorance while instilling strength and wisdom. A superb example, the life size work is in great overall shape, and presents wonderfully, having beautifully aged patina over the whole, highly desirable original, worn, rustic, naturally distressed, chippy paint, craquelure finish, that's delicate, and enhances the artistic antique character and rich historic depth. Detailed Condition Report: Fragile / delicate by design. Loss to one ear, age related checking and separation to carvings, fabric to hind quarters is released and tattered with minor loss, rubbing to paint throughout with wear indicative of age and use; later grey painted mounting blocks are attached to back and hooves. White glove in-home shipping/delivery available. Pickup available near Dallas, Texas Additional Provenance: Property from the Neiman Marcus Collection. Acquired from Heritage Auction, Design District Gallery, Dallas, Texas. From The Dallas Morning Newspaper; April 12th, 2021 Neiman Marcus is selling some of its history and valuables that have been displayed and stored for decades as part of the luxury retailer’s corporate art collection. The Neiman Marcus corporate art collection dates back to 1951, when Stanley Marcus (1905-2002), a life long avid art collector, purchased Mariposa, a large mobile by Alexander Calder and started a long tradition of buying original artwork for new stores as they opened. The Mariposa sold at a Sotheby’s auction last month fetching $18.2 million. The items are being offered through Sotheby's auction house, NYC, New York and Heritage Auction, Dallas, Texas. Many of the pieces were personally collected by Stanley Marcus from the 1960s through the 1980s. Some of the pieces are from corporate spaces, stores and the company’s archives, among the items are important antique textiles, tribal robes...

A beautiful, intricately detailed, and boldly colored South Indian miniature painting of village life in Rajasthan, India. These paintings are also known as Rajput paintings and/or Rajasthani...

Hand-carved wooden Indian tribal storage chest box with hand-wrought iron hinges and straps, and handle. Early 20th century, Northern India.

Early 20th Century Brass & Iron Jeweler's Torch, Karnataka, South India Experience the history and craftsmanship of South India with this early 20th Century brass & iron jeweler's t...

An antique carved hardwood statue depicting a goddes with child on her arm The statue has a very rich aged using patina and traces This statue is dating from the 18th century but pro...

A 10-strand necklace hand-crafted from red-orange Naga beads from the early 20th century and strung with natural fibers. Necklaces such as these were a stat...

Vintage Indian hardwood Shiva Trimurti sculpture is intricately hand carved with three sides of the face of Lord Shiva, one of the 3 major Gods of the Hindu...

The sculpture, expertly carved from fragrant Nepalese sandalwood, stands as a testament to the rich tradition of wood carving in Nepal. The medium itself adds a sensory dimension to ...

Antique Anglo-Indian Rajasthani Painted Mughal Scene Folding Decorative Chair C.1920 A wonderful decorators piece. Structurally sound, missing back support hooks, therefore recommen...

19th Century encased paper model of an Indian grocery store Quite simple this is an amazing decorative object, encased in a 19th century glass and pine display, a handmade paper model of an Indian grocery shop, with wooden hand painted elephant and working man at the steps. Spencer and Co...

Colorful patchwork textile with 20 intricate squares, handmade from India. Use as wall hanging, bedspread or throw.

Late 19th-early 20th century Tribal mask, West Nepal A large mask from West Nepal with a small grin and bared teeth surrounded with pink powder, faint traces of which can also be se...

Antique late 19th Century Indian Kalighat natural pigment watercolor painting of Krishna milking a cow under a Pipal tree. The cow is smiling at Krishna, with divine love. The cosmic dance of life represented in a symbolic message within the painting. Framed in gold painted carved wood frame under glass. Origins of Kalighat painting According to legend, Lord Shiva, the god of dance and destruction, was deep in meditation on Mount Kailash when he received news of the death of his consort, Sati, an avatar (or human manifestation) of the goddess Kali. He wandered for days with her body draped across his shoulders and his inconsolable grief threatened to ruin the earth. Lord Vishnu, the Preserver, was called upon to intervene. To relieve Shiva's burden, he shattered Sati's body into 51 pieces. The little toe of Sati's right foot was said to have fallen at the site of the Hooghly River...

Amazing vintage Moorish Middle Eastern gold and red leather embroidered shoes. Ceremonial Royal leather wedding slippers, embroidered with gold thread. Aladdin, Ali Baba Arabic geni...

Man’s Ceremonial Headdress Naga people, Northeast India Probably 19th century Cane, yellow orchard fiber, dyed goat hair plume A handwritten...

Very unique figure of man with worn details and faded polychrome. Signs of heavy deterioration over the years. A curiosity/collectors piece. Please see detailed photos for c...

Splendid intricately hand carved large heavyweight wooden square printing block from Asia Traditionally used for hand held block printing ink or dye to textiles and paper Fully fun...

Antique Indian Hindu Silver Amulet necklace Period 19th century High grade silver Pendant Length 8 x 6 cm weight 60 grams Condition: Fine. Restrung on cotton.

Dhokra art old ethnic tribal brass traditional ankle bracelet from India, repurposed as ashtrays ,catchall, or vide poche. Handcrafted of a hollow band of heavy brass decorated with chevron repoussé banding and lost wax granulation. The brass inner plate was later added to use the bracelet as a small ashtray. The closure was a push pin mechanism that was closed. India, circa 1920s. Measure: 7"5 D x 2" H. "Dhokra is an ancient folk art tradition prevalent in India in the eastern states of West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Dhokra craft objects are made through the process of non-ferrous metal casting using the lost-wax casting technique, which is one of the earliest and most advanced methods of metal casting known to human civilization. Its roots can be traced back 4500 years to the ancient city of Mohenjodaro in the Indus Valley Civilization. The name Dokra or Dhokra was used to indicate a group of craftsmen of nomadic type from the Dhokra Damar tribe, scattered over the regions of Bengal, Orisa and Madhya Pradash, whose wares were identified by their beautifully shaped and decorated metal products. The enchanting Dhokra art objects have motifs inspired by indigenous folk...

Late 19th-early 20th century Tribal mask, West Nepal A mask from West Nepal with a rather heart shaped facial plane. There are three large iron staples, two of which may have secure...

A rare and wonderful antique South Indian bronze breast plate mounted on a purpose made display stand believed to date from the 17th or 18th century. The...

This strikingly coloured Phulkari is from Punjab, India. It was hand-crafted from silk and cotton, with silk being used for the embroidery. Phulkari’s are a form of wedding shawl and...

Six early 20th century hair detanglers from Kerala and South Karnataka, India. An unusual group of six hair detanglers found exclusively in Southern India. The carved wooden example...

Early 20th century Nepalese fungus mask A Nepalese mask made from naturally formed fungus, from the middle hill’s region. Large, blackened piece of tree f...

Carved wood smaller dance mask from Nepal with powerful expression, open eyes and open mouth with carved teeth and fangs, representing the Buddhist Mahakala, the demon chaser. The to...