Blackened Sculptures and Carvings

A rare and exceptional antique Southeast Asian Burmese hand carved and gilded teak wood religious figure Buddhist temple -monastery sculpture. Exquisitely hand-crafted in Burma (present day Myanmar) in the late 19th century, finely sculpted from a single piece of teakwood, exceptionally executed in period Mandalay taste, highly detailed and decorated, showcasing the most exquisite craftsmanship throughout. Modeled in an exceedingly rare and unusual form, depicting a tall standing Na spirit figure, adorned in fanciful Royal dancer garment, elaborately decorated and embellished with brilliant polychrome colored mirrored glass jewel inlays, red lacquered dress tail, he stands carrying a golden stag deer around shoulders and neck, the naturalistic deer having delicate four point antlers, all over an ebonized base, resting on a custom later Thai wooden pedestal stand. Dimensions: (approx) Overall: 27"h, 9"w, 7.75"d Figure: 19.25"h, 9"w, 7.5"d Base 7.75"h, 8"w, 7.75"d; 10.5"h with post Condition: A superb museum quality example, wonderfully preserved original antique condition with nicely aged warm rich dark patina and minimal losses. *Additional photos available upon request We immediately gravitated towards it upon first sight, and have not seen another piece quite like it form, quality, or scope. It would look amazing in just about any setting, with its remarkable design and visually striking eye-catching light reflection, it's sure to become a focal point of any space, while adding a thoughtful touch of rich cultural history, sophistication, elegant warmth, tranquility and serenity to any home! Provenance / Acquisition: Personal property of Genshiro Kawamoto (b.1932), a Japanese real estate tycoon and avid decorative arts collector. To give an idea of both the size of the collection and the wealth Mr. Kawamoto had amassed, he purchased numerous (many 100s) of multi-million dollar homes in Hawaii, always paying cash. A string of homes he purchased for $2M-$20M each with the intent of using them as museums, (most people use storage units) just to house and display items from his extensive collection of antiques and artifacts. About 30 properties with a collective value of $200M in the Kāhala area of Honolulu he left vacant for decades, allowing them to fall into disrepair and get boarded up, attracting many complaints and media attention. Mr. Kawamoto was in the procession of building one of the most expensive homes ever built in Hawaii at the time of his arrest and subsequent deportation to his native country, Japan, where he was found guilty of tax evasion, sentenced to four years in prison and had his assets seized and auctioned off. We acquired this wonderful example from a prominent antiques dealer in Maui, Hawaii, who personally knew Mr. Kawamoto and procured this sculpture from the estate. Mythological History: The golden deer...