Mid-20th Century Asian Art and Furniture

A mid-20th century 'Kamasan' cotton textile painting from Bali, Indonesia. The hand-painted image has great detail and depicts Balinese Hindu mythology. Key features of this image ar...

Cast bronze toy horse on four wheels. Reminiscent of early 19th century Indian toys, these pieces were often left as offering in temples for children to find. The gift of the horse t...

Rustic Folk-Art Tree Branch Console Table. American, circa 1960. Beautifully patinated and full of character.

Japanese Mingei (Folk Art) Gathering Basket This hand made gathering basket is from Northern Japan. It was most likely a gathering basket. However, it could be utilized in different applications. It closes by pulling-up on the straps, and the 30 one-inch (in diameter) metal rings closes it. The heavy straps on the backside run all through the bottom, and perhaps, it was a backpack, as the heavy straps were designed for field or farm work. It is a Folk Art item in very good condition considering its use and age. Applications and Uses: Wall Art When it was photographed, very interesting shadpws appeared The top 4 inches is an unusual design of open-work, different from the main body. Dried Materials Knitting Basket...

African Batik Cloth Natural Hand-woven Hand-Printed Cotton Fabric Ghana 10 yards. Colors are organic earth tone beige and light brown in geometric design. Non waxed fabric circa 1950s. Hand made in Ghana Africa. Museum Quality Original Long Piece. 380 inches, (30 ft 10 yards Long) x 46 inches Inches Wide( 4ft). Could be use to make pillows or upholstery. History of Batik in Africa: Batik, a traditional fabric art technique, has a rich history in Ghana, West Africa. The practice of batik involves using wax to create intricate patterns on fabric, which is then dyed to achieve the desired design. While batik has its origins in Asia, particularly in Indonesia, it has been embraced and adapted by various African countries, including Ghana. In Ghana, batik-making can be traced back to the mid-20th century when it gained popularity as a form of traditional textile art. The craft was introduced by artists and artisans who were inspired by the vibrant and expressive nature of batik. These early practitioners experimented with different designs, colors, and patterns, infusing local themes and motifs into their creations. Over time, batik became an important part of Ghanaian culture and identity. It is not only used for clothing but also for various decorative and functional items such as wall hangings, tablecloths, and accessories. The art form often reflects the rich cultural heritage of Ghana, incorporating symbols, proverbs, and traditional stories into the designs. Ghanaian batik artists often employ a combination of traditional and contemporary elements, creating a unique fusion of styles. The process of making batik involves applying hot wax to the fabric using various tools to create the desired patterns. The wax acts as a resist, preventing dye from penetrating the waxed areas. After dyeing, the wax is removed, revealing the intricate designs on the fabric. Today, batik-making in Ghana continues to thrive as both a traditional craft and a form of artistic expression. Many artisans and designers draw inspiration from Ghana's diverse cultural landscape, incorporating elements from different regions and ethnic groups into their batik creations. The art form has also gained international recognition, with Ghanaian batik products being sought after both locally and abroad. In summary, the history of batik in Ghana is a testament to the creativity and adaptability of artists who have embraced and transformed this traditional technique into a vibrant and culturally significant art form within the country. HISTORY OF BATIK In the mid-nineteenth century, the Belanda Hitam, or "Black Dutchmen," are said to have introduced batik to West Africa after serving as indentured soldiers for the Dutch in Indonesia. Returning from their conscriptions with trunks of fine Javanese batik, the opulent patterns captured the imagination of their friends and relatives. However, textile history is complex, and only a handful of recruits returned to West Africa with batik due to delayed payments. Batik, with roots traced to Egyptian mummies, is a tradition found globally, from Southeast Asia to Japan and India. Europeans, particularly the Dutch, played a significant role in industrializing batik from the seventeenth century onward. In West Africa, Dutch Scholar Ineke van Kessel suggests that batik arrived from India over trans-Saharan routes. Local populations, like the Yoruba in Nigeria, incorporated wax printing into their textiles. European traders brought wax and non-wax fabrics to West Africa in the seventeenth century, targeting a population ready for their consumption. European designers adapted prints for the African market...

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...

Vintage Burmese Betel Box “Kun-It”, a cylindrical woven container with a deep lid and shallow interior tray, all covered in layers of red black and...

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...

Vintage Burmese Betel Box “Kun-It”, a cylindrical woven container with a deep lid and shallow interior tray, all covered in layers of red black and...

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...

Vintage bronze statue in gold and green of Prince Rama shooting an arrow. The large bronze sculpture depicts Lord Rama, a revered figure in Hindu mythology, standing majestically wit...

Vintage hand carved hard wood elephant sculpture. Large heavy ebony dark wood hand carved Anglo Indian elephant sculpture. Gorgeous vintage black hand carv...

A metal cast bronze finish on brass in beautiful posture figure of Tibetan Buddhist Padmapani Deity Avalokiteshvara Beautiful Asian sculpture after the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Padmapani, bearer of the lotus) Dimensions: Height : 8.5 inches Width : 4 inches Depth : 2.75.inches. Asia, Nepal circa 1950's. "The bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara is the Buddhist embodiment of compassion. He is often portrayed as an elegant and gracious youth. The cult of Avalokiteshvara worship originated in India and spread across Asia, along with other Buddhist philosophies and practices. In some places Avalokiteshvara eclipses the Buddha in importance. Buddhist rulers, such as Prince Shotoku in Japan and the Dalai Lama in Tibet, have been seen as incarnations of this saviour. In Nepal, Buddhism flourished alongside Hinduism long after the religion had lost favour in India. Although the kings of the Early Malla period who ruled the Kathmandu Valley were Hindu, some of the greatest artistic achievements of the age were Buddhist. This gilt copper figure...

Two Asian gilt bronze Teppanom kneeling Thai sacred angels. Bronze gilded temple guardians in a sitting position. These temple guardians were made in Th...

Vintage 1950s Burmese Kalaga Tapestry pillow warrior and horses. Elaborately detailed vintage Burmese Kalaga tapestry made into a pillow cover...

Vintage white marble Mughal Jeweled elephant sculpture paper weight. Finely hand painted animal sculpture of an elephant with colorful gold, pink and red color paint. Collectible ceremonial hand...

Vintage Naga Meditating Buddha Statue. In Buddhism and Hinduism, Naga is the Sanskrit word for a deity taking the form of a very large snake, specifically the king cobra with multiple heads. Vintage Mid century Hindu art of a peaceful Naga Meditating Buddha figurine...

Vintage silver Hindu Ganesh collectible Hindu diety statue amulet India. Silver amulet in original green velvet box. Hindu gift their loved ones with this...

Vintage gilded Asian wooden sculpture of a standing Buddha. Southeast Asian carved gilt wood and polychrome sculpture of the Buddha standing. Mandalay standing Thai...

Scatter size Chinese peking rug in blue and white from the 2nd quarter of the 20th century. Measures: 2'2" x 4'1".

Vintage cotton elephant, covered in Indian textiles, retailed in the 1950s by Harrods. Interior frame composed of wire and straw. Textiles originally s...

Vintage hand painted and handcrafted ceramic wall decorative plate with polychrome deer scene. It has a beautifully hand painted scene with deers enjoying the outdoors , surrounded by flowers in blue and white, turquoise, light and dark green foliage. An Islamic ceramic...

Vintage statue in gilt bronze metal of Thai Teppanom Temple Guard Dancing statue sculpture. Vintage Handcrafted Gilded Thai Teppanom Temple Guard Dancer...

Handcrafted Japanese ceramic bowl signed Jin Kobayashi. Large stoneware plate hand made and hand painted with autumn leaves design. Hand-carved ge...

Vintage midcentury hand carved ebony wooden Balinese busts sculptures. Hand carved sculpture in wood depicting a Balinese couple. Bust of a man and wom...

A Korean Folk Art painting mounted as a hanging scroll. The watercolor on paper was likely dated from 1930s-1940s. The work depicts a "Jakhodo" theme (...

B/1676. Old African textile from Kuba, Zaire: with small shells as ornament. An IDEA: use this item as backrest covering of a sofa !

Vintage Thai Temple charcoal rubbing. Hand crafted temple scenes at the Wat Pho temple located in Phra Nakhon district in Bangkok Thailand...

Asian Decorative Art Phad Painting Rajasthan Royal Procession. Add a festive touch with this superbly hand painted Phad painting of a Rajput Royal Pr...

Massive vintage cotton elephant, covered in Indian textiles, retailed in the 1950s by Harrods. Exterior decorated in embroidered designs, tassels, tiny mirrors...

Vintage Wood Carving Art Thai Buddha Figure kneeling and praying. Vintage Mid century wood carving art of a peaceful Thai female figure kneeling and praying. Beautifully detailed figurine reproduction of a classic Thai style Thepanom, an Aparasa in Sanskrit, similar to an angel in Judeo-Christian tradition. This Thepanom statue is an outstanding reproduction of a beautiful carving of the divine crafted from a honey colored wood. Add this Asian art sculpture to any room to relax and renew inner strength and happiness. A Thepanom is thought provide a delicate, divine energy for living room, bedroom, office or study. In Thailand, a Thepanom is considered a thoughtful gift of respect and friendship. Very nice work with good details. She is 9" tall. Thai kneeling...

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

Handmade ethnic aged Borneo Ajat basket made from natural Rattan. Motifs of Burung Kenyalang / Hornbill Bird. Traditional ethnic Borneo woven natural organic fiber rattan basket A ...

Hand Drawn Indonesian Batik with Floral Design, Made in Indonesia, Full Batik Tulis Madura, Indonesian Batik Fabric. A beautiful, vintage hand made Batik ...

Vintage Thai Temple charcoal rubbing. Hand crafted temple scenes at the Wat Pho temple located in Phra Nakhon district in Bangkok Thailand...

Vintage Samarkand suzani, Uzbekistan Tashkent suzani from Samarkand Uzbekistan, 1950. Overall condition is pretty good for its age and use. "Suzani" means needlework and these embroideries are some of the most characteristic forms of textile art from Central Asia. The mastery of color and the dynamic sense of movement they convey continue to add depth and joy to contemporary interiors. A high level of creative variation and the individuation of each flower are what make each piece unique. Measures: 52" x 51. The Silk Road Bukhara: Like scattered pearls along the vast expanse of the Great Silk Road, the cities of Uzbekistan glisten radiantly under the unforgiving sun. This nation, nestled in a picturesque oasis, holds a treasure trove of historical artifacts, owing to its advantageous position at the heart of the ancient Silk Road network. In the year 138 BC, a transformative era commenced as China graciously opened its borders to trade, giving rise to caravans that embarked upon this illustrious route. These trading pathways served as conduits not only for the exchange of goods and craftsmanship but also for the intermingling of cultures, beliefs, and wisdom. Even today, within the ancient walls of cities like Samarkand, one can still discern the echoes of bustling voices, the melodious jingle of camel...

Vintage stone Hindu Ganesh collectible Hindu diety statue from India. Hindu stone amulet for protection, Ganesh is widely revered as the remover of obstac...

Large beautiful and sustainable hand carved wooden bowl with gorgeous leaf design from the Batak of Sumatra, mid-20th century. Scaramanga's bowls are authentic old hand carved wooden bowls...

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

Oversized cast bronze Buddhist hand mounted on a black wooden stand and is covered with a great patina. A vintage oversized Thai bronze sculpture...

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...

Vintage Bean Beater, natural wood branch, Japanese, mid-20th century A natural branch shaped like a wishbone. A kitchen tool to shuck beans by "beating"...

Shoji Hamada Japanese clay charger with black glaze and terracotta toned glazed decoration, circa 1960s. On contemporary stand. The piece is unsigned and as such cannot definitively ...

Compelling Chinese rug with a motif full of happy foo dogs, circa 1940. The field is a peach tone, with navy and light blue accents Measures: 5'3" x 8'2".

An ivory field Chinese Peking rug with a pictorial animal motif. 2 deers, birds, a goat, rabbit and swan. some nice pretty blues too, circa 1940 Measures: 2'6" x 4'10".

Festive and elegant Susani embroidery, suitable for bed or table or wall. Silk embroidery on a cotton ground. B/ 2003 - cm. 213x 177.   

Part human-part monkey, Hanuman is a central character in the Hindu epic Ramayana. He is generally depicted as a man with the face of a monkey and a long tail. Often described as t...

A charming early 20th century Chinese rug with an all over geometric motif in peach, beige, various shades of blue Measures: 6'4'' x 811''.

Early 20th century large Burmese lacquered bamboo tray handcrafted red Thai lacquered rattan footed stand. This Thai features a drum shape circular tray top sitting above a body rhythmically accented with spindle motifs, the ensemble resting on a confirming plinth. Burmese (Myanmar) lacquer ware has a long tradition dating back to the 13th century. Lacquer in Burma is called “Thitsi” meaning the sap of a Thitsi Tree (Melanhorrea Usitata). Typically, bamboo and wood are used as a frame or base in making lacquer work. This table tray stand called a “Dang lan”. This stand is constructed with woven bamboo that is then applied with many layers of lacquer. Black lacquered frame covered with red lacquer. A large high quality handcrafted wooden elevated tray...

Large oversize round Asian decorative head in red and gold. This piece is perfect for a bookshelf, or as a statement piece for a side table. Painting i...

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...

B/874/1 - Vintage African Kuba textile, suitable for Wall hanging or table - An IDEA: use this item as backrest covering of a sofa !

Highly textured portrait of a jewish man. This piece is fascinating, original and signed. Moshe Katz was born March 2, 1937 in Bucharest, Romania. With his parents, he fled the Nazis...