Pair African Gourd Storage Vessels, Kenya or Ethiopia, early-mid 20th Century

A whimsical and intriguing headrest carved from a single piece of hardwood in the form of an anteater. The curved back of the animal would have supported the neck and displays a wonderfully warm patina from tribal use. The anteater's over sized head has been carved in a charming manner. Found in Sumatra, but most likely traded from Irian Jaya.

A beautiful and unusual gilt bronze figure of a Bodhisattva, possibly Amoghapasha, Nepal, early to mid-20th century, circa 1930s or 1940s. The regal figure possibly depicting the bodhisattva Amoghapasha, the Unfailing Lasso. The enlightened being is portrayed seated upon a high double lotus pedestal. He is dressed as an Indian prince, wearing a luxurious foliate patterned dhoti around his waist and a billowing scarf around his shoulders. . His torso bare save for the jeweled necklaces and the sacred thread. A five pointed crown with an image of Amitabha Buddha in the central point graces his head. His princely face cold painted with beautiful detail, his hair colored blue with crushed lapis lazuli, indicating his peaceful nature. Amoghapasha holds a lasso in one hand, an axe in the other. He is considered an emanation of Avalokiteshvara. A bodhisattva of compassion, Amoghapasha is so named because of the lasso he holds in his hand. The lasso represents his vast compassion which is thought to extend to encompass all beings, bringing them into a state of perfection and enlightenment. The copper base plate, seemingly a later replacement, has been inscribed with a visvajra (double vajra...

A striking Indonesian silk kain lawon with a central diamond pattern, Sumatra, Indonesia, late 19th or early 20th century. The ceremonial shawl, call...

An early 20th century Chinese Republic period carved hardstone drinking vessel, called a rhyton, in the form of a mythical pixiu. The archaistic vessel carved in the Han Dynasty style from a single block of lavender gray nephrite and featuring a large horn-shaped cup being supported by a mythical pixiu. The pixiu carved with a nice sense of motion, head reared back, mouth open, and claws bared. The cup bearing a design of large horned taotie ogre masks on either side. The stone with areas of artificial "calcified" patination.  The pixiu is an ancient beast from...

A well carved festival feasting platter. One end featuring a long billed water bird head. The exterior carved with a traditional complex interlocking motif. The interior plain and di...

A rich and luxurious kain limar songket, shoulder cloth for a woman, ikat dyed and woven silk (limar) with supplementary weft woven metallic gold thread brocade (songket), circa 1900...

African shield Wallaïta from Ethiopia, early 20th century. Base: 40 x 17cm.

African shield Oromo from Ethiopia, early 20th century. Base 34 x 20cm.

Showing a crescent shaped headrest braced by flattened 'V' shaped supports rising from a cupped base, decorated overall with hand carved linear motifs and exhibiting an old rubbed su...

This stool, from the Gurage culture of Ethiopia, has been carved from a single piece of heavy, dense wood. The stool exhibits a flat, low form and over time, has developed a lovely d...

The dark brown earthenware bowl-shaped body rising to a flattened shoulder with incised linear & notched detail rising to a roll-over rim. The u...

An incredible early 20th century Makenge hand-built ceramic palm wine pot with a graceful shape including a narrow neck and a wide belly. The pot is covered ...