Late 19th Century Sculptures and Carvings

Very large sculpted bronze vase with a polyglobular body resting on a base decorated with a Greek frieze. The whole is decorated with chimeras, dragons, birds of prey and phnixes ami...

An enchanting classical French 19th Classical silvered bronze statue depicting a mother and her children dancing, mounted on a gilded base. Sign...

A scarce, high-quality antique Burmese jewel inlaid solid bronze chinthe sculpture. Dating to the late 19th century, likely originating in the Mandalay region of central Burma, the fearsome looking beast depicted in traditional Burmese iconography and important architecture, especially as a pair, the protective temple guardians placed flanking the entrances of Buddhist religious pagodas and monasteries. Burma; circa 1880 PROVENANCE: The estate of Mr. Wesley and Mrs. Suzanne LaFever, Beverly Hills, California. ACQUISITION: We acquired this outstanding example from the reputable auction house, Austin Auction Gallery, Austin, Texas. Fine Estates and Antiques catalog, December 2021 DESCRIPTION: Exquisitely sculpted and cast of heavy, patinated solid bronze, finely detailed and decorated throughout, intricately engraved with scrolling ornamentation and fine detailing work, old nicely aged polished finish developing a warm, mellow patina with highly desirable scattered verdigris, minor inlay losses add to the charming antique character. Stoic in stance, posed at attention proudly squatting back on its haunches, front legs straight, possibly roaring with head up and straight ahead, mouth ajar with teeth and long tongue exposed, ornate armor plating and horned mane, fanciful stylized tail, inset with Myanmar style brilliant colored mirrored glass jewels. BRIEF HISTORY / BACKGROUND: Predating the use of coins for money, brass weights cast in the shape of iconic animals like the Chinthe were commonly used to measure standard quantities of staple items. Chinthe, the Burmese word for lion, while leograph of Chinthe is an artistic highly stylized lion; the rare Southeast Asian Burmese equivalent to Foo Dogs, Japanese Komainu, Tibetan Snow Lion...

Late 19th century small bronze statue of Vishnu, chiseled with great detail on a fine casting, lost wax process. 2 1/2" x 1 3/8" x 4...

Antique Meiji Period bronze and bone sculpture - dramatic fine casting of an elephant and tiger - mounted to an black painted wood base - unsigned -...

Orientalist Viennese bronze representing a Tuareg on his carpet flanked by his.... Camel because the camel has two humps. Austrian work from the late 19th century. Dimension height 3...

A well cast pair of Japanese mixed metal okimono figures of Buddhist guardians, known as Nio or Dharmapala, protectors of Buddhist faith, Meiji Period, Japan. The smiling bronze g...

Bronze Burmese Buddhist statue lost wax casting Mandalay period (Burma) Myanmar. Beautiful example of Burmese Mandalay period bronze casting. Fluid gra...

Magnificent and powerful, fantastically sculptural, ferocious bronze Japanese writhing sea dragon candleholder is coiled around itself, with an uplifted head and a stylized plume of ...

An impressive larger than life-size cast and gilt bronze left hand and arm of a bodhisattva, late 19th century or earlier, Tibet. The over-sized arm and hand of graceful proportions. The arm tapering down to a slender wrist embellished with a simple bracelet hiding the join between the hand and arm. The hand and arm richly gilt. The join to the elbow visible and exposed. The hand heavily cast, with nice detail to the fingernails and cuticles. The palm with simple incised lines. The hand, with the pointer and pinky fingers raised, and the middle and ring finger folded down touching the thumb, performs the gesture known as karana mudra, the gesture of dispelling evil. (Here in Texas we refer to this gesture as "Hook'em Horns!") Karana mudra is often associated with Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, known in Tibet as Chenrezig, and in China as Guanyin. The hand and arm would originally have been part of a much larger sculpture. Unfortunately many Tibetan Buddhist sculptures...

A very fine and detailed Tokyo School cast bronze okimono (decorative sculpture) of a smiling farmer, Meiji period, late 19th century, Japan. The e...

A beautiful 10 lb, gilt bronze statue of Tibetan White Tara. Seated in dhyanasana on a 4-tier lotus pedestal rising above holy beast on padmasana (single petal row lotus throne), both hands in Karana mudra to expel evils. Her small exquisite face with serene expression, with downcast eyes under high arched brows, wearing a high crown and long beaded necklaces ands rosette earrings. The beast with vivid expressions, bells and a saddle draped...

A pair of fine late 19th century bronze statues of Chinese officials. The left figure depicts an imperial adviser, his full face with almond shaped eyes under arched brows above pursed lips beneath an elaborated crown, his hands together holding a Ruyi, wearing open neck robe. The right figure is of an older adviser with similar features and a long beard, wearing a flat crown symbolic of seniority and closed robe that is appropriate to age and rank, holding a jade scepter...

Antique 19th/beginning 20thC Mandalay style reclining Burmese Buddha. Solid cast. Sits 2.75" tall, 6 3/8" long. A nice example of its type.

Two nicely cast and beautifully designed votive horses from India, with great patina and presence. These pieces combine spiritually and beauty. Priced and sold individually. Dimen...

Bronze sculpture, late 19th century, Asia Measures: H 19cm, W 15cm, W 8cm.

Antique 19th century Mandalay period bronze seated Buddha, Burma, circa 1880. Seated with the right hand lowered bhumisparsimudra and the left hand rest in the lap. In very good co...

A large and powerfully cast Chinese bronze censer in the form of two Buddhistic lions, Qing dynasty, late 19th century. The censer is well cast with a strong sense of movement, featuring a pair of fierce Buddhistic lions playfully antagonizing each other. Locked in a mock battle, the smaller lion...

A fine quality set of two Meiji period Japanese cockerel and chicken.

Unusual Meiji period bronze of a labourer sieving through a woven reed mat with another at his feet and a wooden bucket at his side, signed.

A charming Meiji period bronze of a boy collecting sweet chestnuts by Seiya, he carries a basket and is looking down at an insect crawling over his hand, he is also evidently wearing...

A striking pair of Japanese gilt bronze komainu by the renowned Japanese sculptor, Ishikawa Komei (1852-1913), Meiji period, Japan. The pair well cast, and robustly modeled. They ar...

A finely-cast large Japanese Meiji-period bronze sculpture of a sea-hawk with stretched-out wings, made in the 1880s. The eyes are gilded; both wings and the body of the hawk are det...

A large and magnificent cast bronze image of the Medicine Buddha, Bhaisajyaguru, rendered in the Burmese Pagan style, and most likely based on a period example that was either damaged or lost, 19th century, Burma or Thailand. He can be identified as the Medicine Buddha by the hand that rests in his lap, with his middle finger touching the thumb. A medicine pot or fruit stem would originally have been placed in his upturned palm. The face of this Buddha has been sculpted masterfully. He has a beautiful heart shaped face topped by hair neatly arranged in the typical "snail shell curls", and surmounted by a high ushnisha. Long, pendulous earlobes frame his face, a symbol of his princely past. He gazes serenely outwards from heavily lidded, downcast eyes, a content smile upon his full, lush lips. The Buddha is portrayed seated in vajrasana (full lotus position), his elegant hands displayed in varada mudra, the gesture of granting favors and fulfilling wishes. Long, exquisite fingers extended, the thumb and middle finger touching in a gesture of compassion. He is clothed in a simple kasaya wrapped around his body and over one shoulder, leaving the shoulder and part of his chest bare. The diaphanous garment clings to his body, outlining his well proportioned and graceful, almost sensuous, form. The excess material pooled in neat pleats in front of him. A sash thrown over his shoulder. He sits upon a double lotus base upon a raised platform. The platform features two kneeling attendants, usually interpreted as the monks Ananda and Kasyapa. Between them is a circular disc representing the Wheel of Dharma. Contained in the disk is a flower with eight petals, symbolizing the eightfold path, one of the principle teachings of the Buddha. The sides and back of the platform featuring a series of singha, or lions, representative of the Buddha's royal past. An applied lacquer patina covers the entirety of the image. Large deposits of ash (from incense) are present between the curls of the hair, as well as some the other crevices, indicating this image was the subject of worship for many years. Bhaisajyaguru, also called the Medicine Buddha, or Buddha of Healing, is a revered figure in the Buddhist pantheon as a master able to cure suffering, both physical and spiritual, through his teachings. The Pagan Empire ruled most of present day Burma (Myanmar) from 849 to 1297. The capital, Bagan, served as a both the center of government and religion, where Buddhism reigned supreme. Bagan was also at a crossroads of the Buddhist world, with influence from India, Nepal, Tibet, China, and even Indonesia shaping their culture. As such, Pagan Buddha...

A two-part tall standing cast bronze Buddha figure with jewelled, gilt-inlaid base. Original red lacquer painting in this figure and fully robed design shows throughout this figure. Gorgeous intact expression in the face and body of this female Buddhist figure with every part of her body in wonderful condition. Gilt and jewelled inlays throughout the base make this an exceptional piece in any Central Asian art collection. Circa 1900, BURMESE ART...

A figure of a 19th century seated Buddha in a meditative pose. Patinated bronze (with Verdigris) accented with colored glass as jewels.