Hardwood Sculptures and Carvings

Apsaras are celestial nymphs or female spirits associated with water, clouds, and the arts. They are often depicted as beautiful, enchanting beings with the ability to dance, sing, a...

Special original teak wooden temple house - Gazebo Material : wood 525 cm high Sizes of the platform: 294 cm wide and 215 cm deep Maximum sizes (at the widest point of the roof) is 4...

This Vintage Wood Carving Guan Yin Buddha Statue from China is very unique, Guanyin Bodhisattva, the name of a Buddhist Bodhisattva, is Amitabha Buddha's left attendant, one of the "...

Antique hand carved panel from Toraja. Framed in a minimalist black teak wood shadow box. This carving symbolizes the protection of the home. Great art piece. This antique carving...

This exquisite late 19th-century Chinese carved hardwood figure depicts an immortal holding a bat, symbolizing happiness and good fortune in Chinese culture. The workmanship is exemp...

An exquisitely hand carved bone Chinese dignitary standing figure portraying a lavishly dressed bearded male. Difficult to date, in our opinion last quarter of the 19th century. ...

This Vintage Asian Wooden Carved Statue depicts the revered Eighteen Arhats in worshipful devotion to the Buddha, beautifully captured in rich detail. Each Arhat, representing a Budd...

Early 19th Century Carved Teak Archway, Hindu, Buddhist Temple Doorway This piece has been removed intact and with very little damage to the carvings, it is made in Teak and is pro...

Beautifully carved Qing dynasty tea caddy from Elmwood (yumu), with floral motifs. Beautiful original patina, the body is in a brown lacquer and the handle is finished with an red color lacquer. The large size is very usual and was used in a large family compound. The tea caddy is designed to hold and keep warm, large tea pot filled with tea. The tea pot’s spout comes out the front opening for pouring. The horizontal bar used as the container’s handle has a pivoting lock when open, the handle bar can be removed and closing of the pivoting lock, the handle is secure for use. The wooden tea caddy...

Original teakwooden temple house Material : wood 525 cm high Floor size: 288 cm wide x 209 cm deep Maximum sizes (at the roof) : 488 cm wide x 409 cm deep This temple house is n...

A pair of 20th century or earlier Chinese hardwood hand carved five-claw dragon mirrors. Each is hand carved with high relief Imperial five-claw dragons flying in the air. They also ...

A rare 19th century Thai carved wood stupa made from the heart wood of the Teak tree. This stupa is from Isan region of the Thailand (northern Thailan...

These pair of orange painted tall Indian teak wood pillars are topped with classical acanthus leaf capitals and come in three parts.

Okimono of a Chinese cabbage made in boxwood. The texture and veins have been delicately detailed. Native from China, it is an herbaceous plant of the ...

This is an old carved wooden fish made in Japan. It was made during the Meiji period (1860s-1900s) and was carefully carved one by one using chestnut wood. The annual ring pattern th...

Very Tall Pair of African Marriage Figure Panels This is a very heavy pair of large full-length figures, wall panels, they are African, carved and polychrome painted, modelled as a ...

An impressive depiction of Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of compassion, whose name bears the meaning ‘One who hears the cries of the world.’ The rather androgynous figure is adorned with beaded jewellery and the princely regalia of a dhoti, draped across her body and spilling out over to partially obscure what she is resting upon. The goddess’ profile exhibits idealised features of Asian artistic convention; her face is soft and rounded, with full lips and relaxed eyes that provide a serene quality of youthfulness to the figure. Adhering to Chinese iconography of Guanyin, the figure is marked by an urna on her forehead, denoting her own enlightenment, as well as a diadem displaying Buddha Amitabha, the spiritual teacher of Guanyin. Seated in the Lalit asana pose, translated as ‘royal ease’, the figure exudes a fine example of the relaxed majesty typical in the characterisation of Guanyin. Whilst the figure’s left hand is placed restfully upon the left leg pendant, the right is raised in the gesture shuni mudra, the second finger held gently against the thumb. Otherwise known as the seal of patience, this gesture indicates the figure as one intended to bestow this virtue, along with compassion and understanding, upon the beholder. Notes on the item: Guanyin is the Chinese interpretation of Avalokiteshvara, the Indian Bodhisattva of compassion. The term “Bodhisattva” is derived from the Sanskrit “Bodhi”, meaning ‘awakening’ or ‘enlightenment’, combined with “Sattva”, meaning ‘spirit’ or ‘being’, referring to one on the path to achieving enlightenment. Bodhisattvas in Mayahana Buddhism are recognised as figures who have effectively achieved enlightenment yet relinquish their accension to nirvana in order to remain amongst mankind in the ultimate act of compassion to aid as spiritual guides. As such, the Bodhisattva inhabit a liminal space between samsara and nirvana; enlightened beings that maintain a relationship with humanity that buddhas cannot, as attaining Buddhahood necessitates the abandonment of all worldly attachments, including mankind. Guanyin’s very name, ‘One who hears the cries of the world’ highlights this role as a compassionate figure who acknowledges the suffering and strife of man. Along with Mahāsthāmaprāpta, a fellow bodhisattva, Guanyin serves as an attendant to Buddha Amitabha, with these three deities recognised as the Three Sages of Western Pure Land Buddhism, a sect of Mayahana Buddhism popular in East Asia. Avalokiteshvara is commonly posited to have been adopted from Indian Buddhism into China as Guanyin around 200-400 CE, however it was the Tang dynasty (618-907) which saw the popularisation of the deity. By the Ming (1358–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, Guanyin held the position as the most popular female deity in China. The unique state of religion in China held no monolithic canon regarding Buddhism and saw the assimilation of several belief systems, primarily Daoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. Consequently, Guanyin became a deity to be revered beyond Buddhism alone, appointed as both an official imperial deity and Daoist deity in the 12th century. Guanyin may also be seen to fulfil the role of idealised femininity as prescribed by Confucianism, with the scarcity of female Chinese deities perhaps accounting for the gradual gender shift Guanyin underwent. The Indian Avalokiteshvara is unequivocally recognised as male, whilst the supposed gender of Guanyin remains contentious. Although there is a clear shift from the masculine Avalokiteshvara towards a more feminine representation, it is unclear if Guanyin is understood to be entirely feminine, to inhabit qualities of both genders or to be elevated beyond gender entirely, embodying neither. Depictions of Guanyin are highly androgynous, which some believe lends credence towards Guanyin symbolising the unity of dualistic forces as recognised in Daoism, displaying the anthropomorphism of yin and yang. Comparative Analysis: Market comparisons of similar Qing Dynasty polychrome figures of Guanyin include lot 767 (no.2) From Christies ‘Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art,’ New York, 25 March 2022, with the price realised USD 52,920 (Estimate USD 20,000 – USD 30,000). Christies also auctioned a comparable polychrome Guanyin...

This Chinese Old Wood Sitting on Lotus Buddha Statue is a truly unique and special collectible piece. Antique Chinese Wood Buddha Statue – Seate...

Antique Chinese large cork diorama depicting temple and garden scene.

An antique lacquered hard wood figure of a reclining immortal. He is resting on a basket and with a miniature fisherman presenting him a large fish. The figures are disproportionate ...

A LARGE WOOD FIGURE OF GUANYIN WITH TRACES OF PIGMENTS MING DYNASTY (1368-1644) The bodhisattva is shown seated in padmasana, wearing long flowing ro...

3-504 hand carved wood figural Folk Art sculpture.

Group of Three Chinese Carved Pink Rock Crystal Brush Washers, each with carved pierced hardwood stand. Largest overall: 2.5" H x 5.5" W x 3.5" D. Provenance: From an East 72nd Stree...

An antique Chinese plant stand offers inset marble top over hardwood base having pierced and carved foliate skirt, raised on cabriole legs ...

A handsome wooden figure of the Kitchen God (灶神 in Chinese, pronounced zào shén), the Chinese name can also be translated into Stove God. He is a popular a...

3-1089 Japanese ancient burl wood abstract dog sculpture Wabi Sabi.

Antique Thai Buddhist Temple Gable Panel. The teak triangular shape featuring a carving of a seated Buddha on a lotus plinth, depicted with legs crossed in the virasana position wit...

Japanese hand carved wood life size turtles small 12x19x10" Large 12x22x12".

This Vintage Asian Statues Set features three beautifully hand-carved wooden temple monks, each crafted with intricate detailing and serene expressions that reflect spiritual devotio...

A fine hand carved polychrome wooden seated Chinese ancestral figure sculpture, dating to the 19th century, with deep back cutouts, some paint losses, shrinkage cracks, edge losses, ...

Decorative Rajasthani palace animal sculpture of a camel ridden by a man and woman, decorated in rich polychrome, both dressed in traditional attire.  

Quality antique Chinese carved hardwood figure of a shoulou with a staff, attendant child and a stork standing on a carved base

Very large hand carved and painted wood Happy Buddha sculpture. Hand painted Buddha stands 45". Comes with 30in foot tall orange pedestal(as found). C...

Extraordinary mid century design Bench #2 one of a pair currently available This is a handsome Japanese mid century heavy hardwood bench han...

A fine quality antique Chinese late Qing boxwood carved figure of an Immortal holding a child and dating from around 1900. The figure, an elderly man, is dressed in a full length rob...

A large and serene vintage sculpture of the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, carved of teak wood, gilt, and embellished with glass "gems", circa 1970's, Burma. The sculpture depicts t...

Gorgeous and unusual pair of wood carvings in the Chinese taste, set in beautiful, gold-colored, faux-bamboo frames.

1492 Japanese gilt carved wood seated Buddha with hidden compartment in back

A wonderful vintage to near antique Chinese nephrite jade carving of Damo (Bodhidharma), with an associated carved hardwood stand, early to mid 20th century, possibly Republic Period...

Japan hand carved rosewood rabbit.

Three vintage carved Burmese / Thai buddha / monk statues. Carved of wood featuring figures dressed in traditional attire holding bowls or prayer offerings and standing on lotus flo...

Small sculpture in olive wood by Rectangle Studio Dimensions: 20 x 20 x 28 cm Materials: Solid Olive wood It is collected from the roots and branches of different olive trees in...

An Antique Chinese chopping block with hand-carved detailing. Two original iron supports are wedged on both sides to support such a large piece of solid ...

This intricately carved teak panel depicts a scene from the life of the Buddha, likely part of a narrative sequence once adorning the interior of a Burmese temple. The composition fe...

PRESENTING A GORGEOUS Early 20C Thai Goddess of Love Polychrome Statue. Made in Thailand in the early 20th Century, circa 1920. Hand carved wooden statu...

This solid crusher from Java, Indonesia was part of a larger sugar cane press extracting the sugar rich juices from harvested sugar cane. Hand-crafted from teak It has beautiful wood textures. Before modern sugar cane mills...

Quality antique Chinese carved hardwood group, Quality Chinese wood carving with wonderful colour depicting a shoulou with a staff, Chinese man an...

A vintage theater mask from Bali, Indonesia, circa 1975-1980. Polychromed hand-carved teak, mounted on a black metal stand. This type of mask is used at Indonesian Topeng or Mas...

1276 Japanese hand carved hardwood monkey family sculpture. Fine detail.

3-551 hand painted Asian scene in gold paint set on a stand.

Rare pair of large kneeling monks in the position of prayer/meditation. Red and black lacquered Burmese teak wood with remnants of gold leaf. Untouched ...

The item is in good condition with no significant damage which I could find OTHER than the odd scratch (as pictured). Please see the photos for a more detailed view of the item to ju...

Chinese Export Hardwood Carved Plaque of Quan Yin in Landscape China, circa 1920s Expertly hand carved landscape plaque of Quan Yin the Buddhist goddess of compassion, mercy, and healing and the eternal protector of women and children. Mounted with symbolic brass hook. Overall measurements : 15-Inches high to the the top of the hook/ 14-Inches high to the top of the hand carved wood plaque...

Set of 2 sculptures in olive wood by Rectangle Studio Dimensions: Large: 23 x 23 x 55 cm Small: 20 x 20 x 28 cm Materials: Solid olive wood It is collected from the roots and...

The sculpture is part of a limited series of sculptural works by Raka Studio which encapsulates the Studio’s working styles created using Ash wood. The sculptures can...

This beautiful sculpture realized in China in the 18th century depicts Guanyin, a Bodhisattva associated with compassion. The female form holds a pot in her hands. She appears draped...

Wood carving of Vishnu on peacock with two attendants from South India Early to mid-20th century.

Thai Rattanakosin-Era Carved and Gilded Throne Side Panels Ornately carved panels with gilding from Thailand. The central portion of these panels depict...