Asian Sculptures and Carvings

For your special garden Here's a beautiful and unique way to accent your indoor or outdoor garden space with this rare treasure from Japan. From an old Japanese Nagoya garden comes...

A beautiful and exceptionally 19 inches tall classic traditional Kokeshi doll from Northern Japan. Handcrafted of wood and hand-painted in the early 20th century, covered with a layer of wax. Signed by the artist on its underneath. In good condition with charming patina. A classic traditional doll with a simple but lovely design, a decorative piece. In Japan these dolls symbolize love, friendship and believed to be a lucky charm. We offer more large Kokeshi...

Description: A fine depiction of Guanyin, possessing the regal tranquillity that the Chinese Bodhisattva of compassion has come to be visually associated with. Marked by an urna signifying her spiritual enlightenment and crowned with a diadem depicting the Buddha Amitabha, the figure is immediately recognisable as Guanyin. Her androgynous figure is gracefully poised in the Lalit asana or “royal ease”, the pose classical in representations of the deity. The figure is asymmetric, with the weight of her supple form falling upon her left hand placed against the base, her right knee raised and left pendant. Her right hand rests upon her raised knee, delicately pinching at her draped attire. At first unassuming, this gesture may be suggestive of the Apana Mudra, the seal of purification. This Mudra is associated with physical wellbeing, fecundity and the cleansing of the body. Though she is adorned in the princely garb of dhoti, she bears features of idealised feminine beauty as prescribed in Asian art. With plump cheeks and near pouted lips, her full face gazes down upon the viewer with an empathetic and half-lidded gaze, upholding her title as ‘One who hears the cries of the world.’ 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...

Japanese Large Patinated Bronze Temple Bell With A Resonating Sound Guaranteed to Please You Free Shipping For your meditation area, or special garden display comes this handsom...

Huge 43 inch high Japanese Bronze Treasure Masterwork Suited for a museum, special indoor gallery space, or garden comes this Japanese superbly hand cast solid bronze fortune treasure boat "Takarabune" in full sail proudly brandishing images of the seven lucky gods on hull and three messengers of fortune on sail: plum tree, bamboo, and pine. Its ships' hold bursts with gold, sake, coral, jewels, and a full purse. During the first three days of the New Year the Seven Lucky Gods are said to pilot through the heavens to human ports as the Takarabune or Treasure Ship. As it sails into town bringing good fortune, the takarabune is celebrated in a New Year's tradition in Japan, especially by hopeful businesses. It is superbly hand modeled and decorated with wave and cloud, lotus and dragon motif Japans famous phoenix and turtle among many images cast into one of its sides. The hold is chock full of detailed almost realistic dimensional interior treasures including a Kirin flanked by a dragon and a phoenix and a great number of good fortune attributes: gold koban coin, sake casks...

Crafted from the finest grade natural rose quartz sourced from Madagascar, this fine 5.15-lb statue of Ganesh is meticulously hand carved by an Indian artisan, with every detail exud...

Antique Japanese Kokeshi Dolls – Early 20th Century Handcrafted Set of 2 from Northern Japan Discover the beauty of traditional Japanese craftsmanship with this exquisite set of two...

A handsome quality tall sturdy old "Orchid Flowers & Vines" tea garden lantern in a convenient portable size. May be suspended from loop or installed on any surface using the three ...

A beautiful and quite engaging original large mixed media wall sculpture by contemporary/modern internationally recognized Japanese artist/sculptor Minoru Ohira (born 1950 in Niigat...

A beautiful Thai or Khmer bronze verdigris and golden parcel-gilt Imperial guardian temple Singha lion/dragon/foo dog. This piece has a wonderful patina and heft to it. Likely mi...

China, a fine archaic male effigy hand carved from a granular medium to dark gray stone. Neolithic period, Hongshan culture (circa 4700-2900 BC) Likely a fertility fetish. Note the pecked surfaces and the stone carved hair line top knot. Quality: Fine original condition, no repairs, as collected. Dark varied patina from appropriate age. Dimensions: 13.5 inches tall and 6 inches width. About Hongshan Culture: The Hongshan culture was a Neolithic culture in northeastern China. Hongshan sites have been found in an area stretching from Inner Mongolia to Liaoning, and dated from about 4700-2900 BC. The culture is named after Hongshanhou, a site in Hongshan District, Chifeng. The Hongshanhou site was discovered by the Japanese archaeologist Torii Ryuzo in 1908 and extensively excavated in 1935 by Kosaku Hamada and Mizuno Seiichi. Provenance: Our private collection and accompanied by our Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity. Originally collected in the area of Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia. In addition, our Hongshan stone effigy...

Japanese Satsuma, a fine and monumental 18" Meiji period charger Ozara with rare motif: Captain fisherman and his fish. Depicting a tale of Urashima Tarō* (see below), Signed Jyukan pottery by Chinjyu Makoto, in a lovely gold gilt and red detailed hand-painted composition Age: 1880-1900. Dimensions: 18 inches diameter and includes owner's signed wooden presentation box, tomobako. Hand made and hand painted. Finest quality. Provenance: Old Southern Japanese collection. Urashima Tarō (浦島 太郎?) is a Japanese legend about a fisherman who holds a fishing pole and rescues a turtle and is rewarded for this with a visit to Ryūgū-jō, the palace of Ryūjin, the Dragon God, under the sea. He stays there for three days and upon his return to his village, finds himself 300 years in the future. Finest quality. Largest size. Original collector box tomobako included. Lifetime guarantee of authenticity: All of our Asian works of art come with our Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee. We are members of the North American Japanese Garden Association (NAJGA) specializing for ten years now in old and authentic Japanese stone...

A fine and beautiful carved red gemstone snuff bottle, a deep carving interior with a dark stone cap.  

Timor Island sculpted wooden traditional mask (circa 1970s) on contemporary metal stand. This is a traditional mask of a figure with male facial features and two holes as eyes and another for the mouth with a handle below the face. The island of Timor gave rise to a distinctive practice of creating traditional masks whose precise origins and significance remain uncertain. Portraying both male and female ancestors, they were held by men during dances and other ceremonies, including celebrations of victory in war. Carved sculptures and masks are specific to rural villages. Here the practice of animism, or nature-worship, is incorporated with the carving of ancestral statues and masks, which have a ritualistic function. Some occasions that call for these ceremonies may include asking for successful crop planting, for prosperity, for good weather...

Antique wooden Zushi (miniature shrine, the "house of the Gods") with wooden figurine of Daikoku - from Tohoku area., Japan. Manufactured circa 1860s - 1900s (late Edo to Meiji perio...

A beautiful, wonderfully crafted, alluring mask made for Japanese Noh theatre. The mask is handcrafted and hand-carved from natural wood and is signed by the maker. This mask is of the immortal character Doji who symbolizes perpetual and eternal youth ("doji" literally translates as "child") in the Noh theater world. He is portrayed as a handsome male...

Stunning and unique pair of matching horse sculptures. With a combined experience of almost 30 years in the antiques trade, we were thrilled to once again find beautifully hand-crafted and decorative antiques that we had never seen before. From the density and the weight we can see and feel that these highly decorative horse sculptures are made of a tropical hardwood. Like, for example, with antique mirror frames or church sculptures these horses too were first covered with a mixture of chalk and glue so that the paint would hold longer. And, as so often is the case with antiques, the colors that were used for painting these horses are so much more beautiful than anything you find in this day and age that they truly are an absolute joy to look at. From the colors, the wear, the materials and the techniques that were used to create these horses we can see that these are 19th century antiques. However and unfortunately we lack the knowledge to be able to tell you from which country these highly decorative and sizeable works of art originate. We just can't find matching style horse sculptures anywhere on the worldwide web. They could be Chinese or Nepalese, but they could also be Persian or Arabian. We just have not been able to find out. What we do know is that they are definitely antique, they are in beautiful condition (with some wear, consistent with their age), they are highly decorative, probably unique and they have a look and feel that will instantly change the atmosphere of the room they are in. Mind you, our sharp price for this wonderful pair of horse sculptures...

An amazing earthenware Kwan Yin statue with lamp and reverse incense burner by master potter Liu Li Hui. Seated dhayana asana on wood ledge, Kwa...

A beautiful string of Japanese hand-crafted Buddhist Juzu mala beads made of natural wood. These rosary-type prayer bead necklaces were used by Buddhist monks in temple prayers/ritua...

An outstanding original ancient Khmer/Cambodian Vishnu buddha carved sandstone head statue/sculpture dating from the 12th century. Mounted on a piece of teak wood base. Marked on the...

Pair of Qing dynasty architecture carving panels, detail carvings with warriors riding horses.

Rare one-of-a-kind collection Japanese Connoisseurs Collection of Five (5) Fine Antique Smoking Pipes, Kiseru. You dont need to be a conn...

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...

Truly, a wonderful piece. We gravitated towards it upon first sight. Very well done, beautiful detail and coloring. Quite unusual and rare in this pose. Very well preserved. We have ...

This is a stone mined in Japan. Not only in China but also in Japan from ancient times, rocks in the mountains have been shaved and stones for viewing have been quarried. Such stones for appreciation are collectively called "suiseki". Suiseki means "water" and "stone". The name comes from the fact that I enjoyed pouring water on the stones and changing the color of the stones. And this item is also Suiseki, but it is for viewing without splashing water. It is made with the image of a mountain view. The flow of the river...

A pair of very refined standing pottery statue of guardians, dramatic facial expression, beautiful detail, early Tang dynasty 618-907, come with one Oxford authentication TL test cer...

An Important Chinese Carved Wood Figure of Guanyin, Ming Dynasty, 17th Century Description: A dignified portrayal of the bodhisattva, respl...

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...

Japanese dolls called Kokeshi of the early 20th century. Provenance from the northern Japan. Set of 2. Measures: 36 x 10 cm 30 x 7.5 cm Handmade by Japanese Artisants from w...

A wonderful, gem of a piece. The piece has a beautiful feel and heft to it. The laughing or jolly Buddha is known in China as Budai or Putai, Bodai in Vie...

A lovely and cute hand-carved antique, Heavy and Faty Chinese Carved Hetain White Jade with russet markings, very pure and clean in the body contents with the mutton fat appearance,...

The magnificent 31 lb bronze Buddha statue, crafted in the Ming dynasty style, captivates with its timeless beauty and serene presence. Depicting a young Shakyamuni, the statue exude...

Chinese Scrib, but handcrafted in Thailand. Sixteen feet long. Rosewood base. The sculptors of this enormous boat made of jade. You will admire the details of this vessel. The dragon is the ultimate symbol of auspiciousness. It is the most important symbol in both Feng Shui and in Chinese folklore. It's most powerful when displayed in the east sector of your home, office or location of the piece. This dragon jade boat...

Beautiful 20th century oval Chinese cork diorama. Finely carved decoration in a glass case and black lacquered base. Chinese landscape view, a pagoda in a traditional garden featur...

One "Deer" lantern Available Call or Contact Us For Details A tall antique classsic beauty with all original pieces. Japan, a fine tall kasuga "deer" granite stone lantern with ...

Japanese Meiji period netsuke. of a Yamabushi. This is an exceedingly beautiful and intricate carved netsuke, created during the imperial Japan in the Meiji period, back in he 1890....

A set of very refined green glazed attendants and one sedan chair, each with benevolent facial expression, beautiful colors and lines, Ming dynasty 1368-1644. Three glazed attendants...

Symbolizing Happiness And Longevity Japan, a rare antique hemp noren (doorway curtain) with auspicious congratulatory crane and turtle figures symbolic for happiness and longevity....

Presenting a lovely antique Indian Dhokra horse and rider sculpture. Probably from the late 19th or early 20th century as is evidenced by its natural patina and clear evidence of age. It depicts an Indian Warrior with a sword in his right hand mounted on his horse/steed. The warrior is in classical and ancient Southeast Asian Indian attire and he holds the horse’s reins in his left hand. The body of the horse is a series of lines (in the Classic Dhokra Style) and it has a tribal headdress...

Antique Black Ebonized Wood Hand Carved Anglo Indian Elephant Sculpture. Precious black ebonized hand carved wood Anglo-Indian elephant sculp...

Khmer Ekamukhalinga, a sandstone sculpture of a Linga fronted with a small relief face of Siva. The simple phallic form has a square base (Brahma, the creator), an octagonal mid-sect...

A vintage Chinese butterfly relief blue glass snuff bottle, circa 1940s. The bottle has a unique tall thin shape and is in very good vintage condition. This bottle is a wonderful ...

From Japan comes this seldom found , one of a kind large granite stone display base featuring four sets of altar steps- an impressive and spiritually significant object for displayin...

Pair of patinated bronze Chinese foo dogs, circa 1930s. Excellent vintage condition with amazing detail and a gorgeous patina. Each dog measures 6.5" high x 3.5" deep x 4.75" wide. #...

If you want something special, we recommend purchasing items selected by Brood. We sell carefully selected old Japanese items. I've seen tens of thousands of items so far. Based on t...

This item is a giant wooden penis that was used in old Japanese houses from the late 19th century to the early 20th century (Meiji to Taisho eras). This i...

A wonderful, well-crafted work reminiscent of Isamu Noguchi's early work in bronze. Heavy and solid on a beautiful rosewood base. Apparently unsigned. From a collection of Japanese antiques and...

Pair of patinated bronze Chinese foo dogs with a verdigris finish, circa 1980s. The pair are in very good condition with amazing detail and a gorgeous patina. Each dog measures 5.75"...

A handsome quality pair (2) of original hand painted sturdy old "Iris, Flowers & Vines" tea garden lanterns in a convenient portable size. May be suspended from loops or installed o...

Just discovered and coming from a Shinto Shrine deaccession Call or message us for details or to reserve. Japan an early and superb pair (2) of mythical Shi Shi Temple Foo Dogs als...

A truly beautiful, wonderfully aged, alluring mask made for Japanese Noh theater. The naturally faded beauty and unique character drew us to this mask immediately. The mask is handcrafted and hand-carved from natural wood, clearly by a master of his trade. We believe this mask is of the Noh theatre character Otobide. This mask dates back to the Edo Period (1603-1868). It comes with a wooden storage box (which may have been added at a later date). A rare, unique, and exquisite mask. Finely carved and executed. Would be a great addition to any Japanese or Asian art/artifacts collection or an eye-catching stand-alone accent piece in about any setting. Mask dimensions: 7.7" high, 5.7" wide, 2.1" deep...

Japanese dolls called Kokeshi of the early 20th century. Provenance from the northern Japan. Set of 4. Measures: 30 x 9.5 cm 30.5 x 8.5 cm 30.5 x 9.5 cm 30.5 x 8.5 cm ...

This is truly a spectacular work A beautifully sculptured Buddha head (the features and finial suggest that it is Thai/ Siam) on a custom display stan...

***Reduced In-House Delivery Rates - Click on “Ask Seller” to Request a Quote*** Pair of Antique Chinese Floral Carved Rosewood & Rouge Marble Sculpture Stands C1920. Measures - 3...

The beautiful bronze sculpture is of The Tibetan Amitayus, the Bodhissatva/Buddha of infinite life. Adorned with necklaces, crown and sashes decorated with rosettes, pearls and medal...

Extraordinary pair of fine glazed porcelain Foo dogs came to us out of an estate here in Savannah, Georgia, belonging to an old general that long ago brought them from Thailand. Used...

Designed by Tea Master "Oribe" Please view our video. "Oribe designed this lantern to represent the secular nature of lanterns installed in private tea gardens" Japan “Oribe” st...

6-9th Century Silla Dynasty style Korean Buddha-Looks to have a very good age, but not a period piece. Extremely large at 16.5 in tall. Superb face. Kore...

Tenjin (天神) Noh Mask attributed to Takada Fuki (高田 冨季, 1935–2008) Mask: Tenjin SKU: TBA17 Size: W: 15 cm, H: 21 cm Tenjin is a prominent deity in both Shinto and Noh theater, repre...

A rare 19th century hard to find Japanese Usubata Flower Planter Cart "Norimono", Late Meiji Period. Japan, this handsome quality old style "garden cart" ikebana planter is an exceptionally rare find and an authentic old work of Japanese art. Brilliantly designed and a handsome plant presentation with removable ikebana vase inserted into an openwork wicker basket set on a wheeled cart...