TRIBA

A ruyi (Chinese: 如意; pinyin: Rúyì; lit. 'as desired', 'as [you] wish') is a Chinese curved decorative object that serves as either a ceremonial scepter in Chinese Buddhism or a talis...

Antique Lawa Woman’s Ikat Skirt Cloth, Thailand The Lawa people are a relatively small animist/Buddhist ethnic group (est. pop 17,000) living in the mountainous region of northern T...

Large 8 inch Split Ammonite Mounted Fossil Set Jurassic - Cretaceous Period, 200 - 145 million years old The cutting and polishing of this large pair revealed pale yellow-brown, cal...

Yoruba weathered and worn old female figure, an Ibeji or twin figure, Nigeria, Africa, well loved heavy patina. Strong cubist face with horizontal scarification marks.. A finely car...

Large Seated Maitreya, lacquered wood, 20thcentury Maitreya Bodhisatva, seated in a pedestal, with one leg on top of the other, draped robes and a large halo. One hand is almost tou...

Vintage Savunese Ikat Sarong (Ei), a tubular warp ikat cotton ankle length garment with two large wide decorative bands with five large abstract (Hubi Ae) floral motifs in reserve on...

Vintage Sumba Slendang Shoulder Cloth/Scarf with Animal Design. Indigo and morinda root dyed cotton warp handwoven in a mirror image design depicting an ark of animal pairs including...

Antique Chinese Felt for the Japanese Market This unique Chinese felt was imported into Japan in the early 1900s. Little in known about their specific use, or who or might have owne...

Vintage Northern Thai Reverse Glass Painting of a Golden Buddhist Chedi and a White Bull. Attributed to Khun Sujai, one of the last remaining artists to have made reverse glass paint...

Antique Tribal Kachin Woman’s Jacket with Shells, Myanmar (Burma) A small, intricately woven woman’s jacket from the Kachin (Maru) tribal group located in the far northeast of Myanm...

The Encounter, 1944 Maurits Cornelis Escher (Dutch, 1898-1972) Print size: 13.5 by 18.5 inches (34.2 by 47 cm) Frame size: 23.25 x 27.5 inches (59 by 70 cm) From the catalogue raison...

A Set of Ten Antique Japanese Imari Porcelain Dinner Plates. This set of fine porcelain china is decorated in three firings. The first firing in light and dark under glaze cobalt blu...

Antique Japanese Indigo-Dyed Double Ikat Futon Cover This early 20th century indigo-dyed futon cover displays a large, graphically compelling lattice design created by warp and weft...

Early 20th Century Conus Shell Ornaments, Solomon Islands Three spiral conus shells from the Solomon Islands. These were laboriously sliced with sand and bamboo, which contributed t...

Antique Tribal Dayak Plaited Rattan Longhouse Mat (Tikar), Kalimantan The tightly woven longhouse sleeping mats of Kalimantan are almost exclusively constructed by women, who begin ...

Chinese ink rubbing printing depicting Panthaka Arhat, no.4 of the 16 arhat images immortalized in stone at the former stupa at Shengyin Temple. Depicted here sitting on a rock with a book in his left hand and snapping his fingers in his right hand, symbolic of the speed at which he obtained enlightenment, accompanied by a beggar’s bowl and an incense burner, complete with colophons and silk scroll mounting. The Emperor Qianlong ordered the stone stele to be carved in 1764 after the arhat designs painted by the famed artist Guanxiu (832-912). Even though the temple was destroyed in the Taiping rebellion, the steles remain and have been reinstalled at the Hangzhou Stele Forest. Condition: Creases from rolling, otherwise fine condition. Mounting: 58” x 22”. 19th Century. Provenance: Frank “Till” & Peggy Durdin, San Diego, CA L'Asie Exotique, Palm Springs, CA For other rubbings of this stele see: Penn Museum, object number 2010-26-4 The Metropolitan Museum of Art AN#: 59.195.15 Fine Arts Library of Harvard University, record id: W280021_urn-3:FHCL:478850 For another example of this image rendered in jade and lacquer see: “Screen Paintings of Guanxiu’s Sixteen Arhats in the Collection of the Palace Museum” Luo Wehhua translated by Bruce Doar, Orientations, September 2010, p. 104. In this article the image is identified as the sixteenth arhat Abheda, It is explained in this article that Qianlong re-identified the arhats, thus the 16th Arhat attribution for this image. Also in this article the identical colophon by Qianlong above the image is translated as: “These accurate portraits of the Sixteen Arhats were created by the Tang Dynasty painter Guanxiu, as recorded in Xuanhe Huapu (Record of paintings in the Xuanhe Reign), and during the millennium from the Guangming reign period to the present day, the original works were to be found in Zhejiang, where they were housed in the collection of Shengyin Temple in Qiantang (Huangzhou). In spring of the dingchou year (1757) of his reign, the Qianlong emperor undertook a southern tour of inspection and stayed at an imperial lodge on the West Lake. He went to the temple to pay his respects and there he saw the arhats on display and wrote a description of these marvels. The sequence of the arhats and their names had been passed down since ancient times, but they did not correspond to their Sanskrit titles; the sequence of the arhat names conformed instead to the interpretation of the Sanskrit classics by the Zhangjia State Preceptor. The emperor penned the original names and positions in the sequence below each of the figures in accordance with the readings supplied in Tongwen Yuntong (Unified Rhymes), and below each he penned an encomium, which he signed. Then the images were returned to the collection, to be passed down as a perpetual treasure. Now, the fourth great arhat had long gone missing and we did not know where his painting was. But it was merely a trifling matter of matching the images with the names, and now surely we have found him! This I, the emperor, believe.” All 16 of these rubbings can be found in the Rubel Chinese Rubbings Collection at the Fine Arts Library of Harvard University with the following descriptive historical note: “Rubbing from stele depicting No. 4 of 16 arhats (Lohans, Buddhist saints) -- Nan ti mi duo luo qing you, Panthaka Arhat. Original painting attributed to Guanxiu, 832-912. Inscriptions written by Hongli, Emperor Qianlong (Gaozong, 1711-1799) of Qing Dynasty. 7 seals of Qianlong follow the inscriptions. Script style: in xing shu. Shi liu zun zhe -- "The 16 noble ones" are 16 lohans. Lohans are also called "a-lo-han" based on the transliteration of the Sanskrit term "arhat." (Japanese: Rakan; Chinese: Lohan; Tibetan: Gnas-brtan). Arhats or Arahants are saints or sages said to have renounced nirvana (freedom from the cycle of suffering and rebirth), vowed to remain in the world to protect the Dharma and propagate the Law of the Buddha in order to devote themselves more effectively to the relief of human misery, like the Bodhisattvas. These 16 Arhats, personal disciples distinguished by the Buddha, formed part of the 500 claimed by tradition to have attended the First Council in Rajagrha. The names and abodes of these 16 arhats are given in a work entitled "Record on the Duration of the Law, spoken by the Great arhat Nadimitra," which was translated into Chinese by the famous pilgrim Xuanzang (596-664) in 654. 16 lohans are quite often represented, especially in China and Japan, in sculpture and painting, in poses and with attributes. Every lohan can be easily with special icongraphic characteristics. Guanxiu (Jiang Deyin or Deyuan, a Buddhist monk also named Master Chan Yue, 832-912) -- painter during late Tang to Five Dynasties, specialized in painting lohan figures. Legend has it that the first portraits of the 18 Lohans...

Traditional Silk Shaman’s Shoulder Cloth, Tai Daeng, Houaphanh Province, Laos. This is a man/woman healing cloth or shaman’s shawl, so named as the center se...

Boat shaped Ikebana basket, the Japanese art of flower arrangement. Made of bamboo with copper insert, signature of maker. This one of a kind ikebana basket features an irregular wea...

Chinese Sinkiang Geometric Rug, Khotan Xinjiang Province (East Turkestan). A carpet of dyed wool pile on a cotton foundation, a mixed berry palette in hues of purple, salmon, red, an...

Tea container, wood, Daruma shape with etched Durama image, both body and top. Smooth patina due to use and light lacquered finish. A charming and useful item. Weighs 1/2 lb Measu...

Cambodian Rock Crystal Sculpture of Jayavarman VII in Meditation. A contemporary lapidary carving from one solid piece of quartz with cloudy areas and inclusions. The seated figure i...

These pieces are a part of smoking set tabako-ire. It consists of a kiseruzutsu (pipe case), a kiseru (pipe), and a tonkotsu (tobacco pouch). The pouch is made of lacquered crocodile...

Erich Heckel (German, 1883 - 1970) Woodcut Print. Title: Junges mädchen / Young Woman (Dube 264 IIIB, Davis-Riffkind 1038, Brücke 14). Original woodcut carved & printed in 1913, woo...

Antique Thai Buddhist Narrative Painting, “Return to the Capital”. Chapter 13 of the Vessantara Jataka, the penultimate tale from the previous lives of the Buddha, representing the ...

Korean inlaid celadon oil bottle, squat globular shape with narrow neck and mouth having an impressed rope pattern revealed in white slip , on the shoul...

Japanese Monk Meditation Fish Gong, Edo Period (Zen fish shaped drum, Gyoban) In the Zen Buddhist temples of Japan, suspended in front of the entrance to the refectory, you will not...

Antique Japanese Lacquered Wood Temple Stand. An open panel style rectangular table with black lacquered top, lacquered and gold leafed base having chased gilt metal side fittings, ...

20th Century Hollow Abstract Iron Sculpture, Japan This heavy hollow iron sculpture by an unknown Japanese metalsmith is a knockout from every angle. It measure 9 inches high by 9 i...

Antique Chinese Civil Service Examination Basket (kao lan), a traditional rectangular bamboo basket with hinged lid and a pinned overhead handle for carrying, The flat panel lid has ...

Vintage Hand Dyed Cotton Batik Slendang (Selendang), Java. A length of cotton fabric used as a shoulder cloth, hand dyed in three colors of rust brown, indigo and a dark blue painted...

Vintage Hand Dyed Cotton Batik Slendang (Selendang), Java. A length of cotton fabric used as a shoulder cloth, hand dyed in two colors: red and blue painted over a wax resist design,...

Medium Betel Nut Box, Maranao, Southern Philippines (Mindanao). Bronze with bordered silver inlay design overall of a symmetrical floral tendril vine pattern referred to as “the okir...

Vintage Japanese Obi. Gold kinran abstract wave pattern on a diagonal white on white brocade ground, continuous on one side, center section lined on the reverse side. Minor signs of...

Yoruba fierce male figure, an Ibeji or twin figure, Nigeria, Africa, well loved heavy patina. Strong face with caved open mouth with large teeth. A finely carved Yoruba male Ibeji f...

Antique Japanese Indigo-Dyed Double Ikat Kimono This deeply saturated indigo-dyed kimono is made of heavy-weight hand-spun cotton and precisely patter...

A fine bronze tribute drum (Heger Type III), Pazi (Burmese), pam klo’ (Karen). This unique lost wax casting of a drum is ornamented with 8 frogs with bulging eyes placed in stacks o...

An irregular shaped slice of Dalbergia root burl with a dark center and blonde surround, all figured with multiple “bird’s eyes” and knobby live edge, supported by four short and cur...

Antique Panel from Young Girl’s Luntaya-Acheiq Hta-mein (skirt), Myanmar (Burma) Skirt panel of interlocking-tapestry woven silk in three shades of jade green, purple, reddish pink,...

Madagascar Jurassic - Cretaceous Period, 200 - 145 million years old 8.75 x 7 x 2 in. / 22 x 18 x 5 cm Weight: 4 lbs 14 oz/ 2.065 kg Ammonites were cephalopods that resembled a s...

Antique Man's Ceremonial Head Cloth (Iket Kepala), South Sumatra Malay people, Palembang region A beautifully subtle weft ikat ceremonial head cloth with elaborate silk chain-stitch...

Rare double joined standing figure with male figure on top standing on female shoulders. Deep patina and wear from traditional use. Finely carved and expressive faces. 11 1/4 inche...

A Chrysanthemum and Bush Clover painting on gold leaf six-panel folding screen, painted with clusters of leafy green chrysanthemum plants with white blossoms having moriage relief petals of gofun growing amidst pink blossoming bush clover within a bunched bush clover garden fence rendered in lighter gold relief, all on a background entirely of rich gold leaf. These two flowers are symbolic of Japan and the autumn season. The classic patterned paper verso with a Naga Antiques...

Small sweet early Kuba Cup with refinedf face, finely carved hair, with a handle, from the DRC, Africa Finely incised hair in tight geometric form, small proj...

Japanese Rosoku-tate or Shokudai (candle stand) a lathe turned wood in a slender baluster form with attached concave circular base and broad circular wood candle base tapering down ...

Vintage Northern Thai Reverse Glass Painting of Twin Golden Buddhist Chedis and a White Elephant. Attributed to Khun Sujai, one of the last remaining artists to have made reverse gla...

Tribal Bronze Cache-sexe, Vere People, Cameroon/Nigeria Bronze alloy 4.5 (11.4 cm) to 2.25 (6.7 cm) inches high Late 19th century A set of bronze spikes forms this cache-sexe from t...

Five Tribal Bronze Snuff Rings, Tiv Culture, Nigeria Brass or copper alloy 4.5 (11.4 cm) to 2.25 (6.7 cm) inches high 19th century A fascinating collection...

Large dark reddish brown carved wood mask with underlying traces of red pigment, from New Guinea Sepik River Area. Strong downward looking expression, carved fringe edges. Signs of...

Kuba (Bushong) Raffia Fiber Textile Panel From Woman’s Skirt The Bushong people are one of the largest and most dominant ethnic groups within the Kuba Kingdom in the DR Congo, and h...

Antique Chinese Agate Master Snuff Bottle, 19th century. Larger scale bottle of pale translucent color with varied caramel inclusions, symmetrical rectangu...

Early and rare mask from Gabon, Central Africa, created by the Tsogho peoples. Powerful large mask with carved open eyes, and black painted eyes above, below heavy carved eyebrows. ...

Small used Senufo stylized bird beak face weaving heddle pulley, Ivory Coast Africa I Deep patina and polish from traditional use, circular wear inside from weaving bobbin, now absen...

Antique Tribal Dayak Plaited Rattan Longhouse Mat (Tikar), Kalimantan The tightly woven longhouse sleeping mats of Kalimantan are almost exclusively constructed by women, who begin ...

A Dan finely carved wood prestige spoon or ladle, from the Dan people of Ivory Coast, West Africa. Spoons like this were used by the most prominent woma...

Antique Japanese Kurume Indigo-Dyed Double Ikat Futon Cover Kurume double-ikat weaving was established over 200 year ago on the southern island of Kyushu, and has long been celebrat...

Early Large Food Bowl, Tami Islands, Huon Gulf, Papua New Guinea This large food bowl exhibits a pleasing asymmetry in the raised relief carving of the t...

Annamese Blue and White Ceramic Box, Chu Dau kiln, Vietnam, circa 1500. A covered flat top circular box with lid decoration in under glaze cobalt blue of a peony blossom with leafy b...

Antique Chinese Chalcedony “Peanut and Jujube” Snuff Bottle, Qing Dynasty. The large pear shaped striated stone carving of a caramel colored jujube fruit (Chinese date) and two beige...

A rare triangular wooden seat studded with iron spikes, with remnants of black paint along the borders. During the initiation of new members, candidates were blindfolded after being shown a triangular chair with a seat of metal studs, such as this, on which they were to sit to prove their worthiness. While they were being led, blindfolded, to the chair, an identical rubber-studded triangle was substituted, allowing for a slightly softer landing. The Fellowship’s motto is Amicitia, Amor et Veritas or “Friendship, Love and Truth,” and began in Manchester, England, 26 April 1819. This rite is also said to have been used by the Knights of Pythias...

Antique Thai White Elephant Painting on Cloth, Rattanakosin School, 19th Century. A painted scene of two white auspicious elephants in a landscape setting. In Thai Buddhist folklore,...