Hudson

This figure composed of wood covered in gesso and mounted with cast bronze tail, head and legs has been set on a later wood base. The head and tail are finely detailed and engraved. Purchased in the Middle East in 1969 and then brought to this country and remaining in the same collection ever since the statue represents Thoth. The image of an ibis on a perch in hieroglyphics is the image of the God Thoth and thus is a double symbol. Referred to as “The Lord of the Divine Words” he was a favorite of learned men and was considered the god of wisdom, scribes, and the powerful and magical skill of writing. Numerous examples of this form of depiction exist some with alabaster instead of wood some in total bronze and then some bronze mounted with gessoed wood or with the gesso gilded in different states of decay. We believe this to be from a late period approx. 30 BC. It is possible to cite many examples but a specific one is chosen here as it is incredibly similar in size, in construction and appearance to this example sold by Case Antiques Auction...

Indian grey granite figure of Bhudevi. Chola Dynasty (9th-14th centuries) sculpture of Bhudevi, Bhu translates to Earth and Devi translates to god or die...

This goddess is most often represented as a bipedal figure with the upper arms shaped in feline form and hands resting on the Sa sign, a hieroglyph meaning protection. Another typica...

Hand carved wood with gesso and gold, Amida Buddha sitting on a lotus blossom with halo. In remarkably excellent condition. No visible restoration, has bo...

This fragment of a statue comes from the estate of the Ambassador to Morocco Joseph Verner Reed. He held this post from 1981-1985 and was then Chief of Protocol for the United States...

This very finely cast figure seated in Vajrasana posture shows many detailed refinements such as the jewelry, crown, lovely almond shaped downcast eyes, engraved rob patterns and the...

This large vase of a bulbous ringed bowl beneath a beaker neck surmounted with molded rim is typically called a HU and rest well on a nice old rosewood stand. Pottery in appreciable amounts is first found during the Han dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD) and comes mostly from excavated grave sites. There seems to have been an explosion of technical advances and in central or industrialized dynastic attempts to produce large quantities of material for use in burial sites during this time in China's culture history. One of the most common forms found is the Hu. Made to resemble more ancient Bronze vessel reserved only for the very rich, pottery became more practical and less costly. Northern China saw the invention of a low fired lead glaze tinted bottle green with copper oxides used almost exclusively for funereal purposes due to the large lead content. After extended tomb burial in the ground this glaze degrades to a silvery iridescence adding to an objects visual appeal. This vase shows a very dramatic iridescent coating indicating burial as well as the hallmarks of hand production and fire burning kiln manufacture. This vase is from the Bergreen family collection. The family is well-known for its artistic and philanthropic interests as well as the many major works covering many styles and periods collected over a long period of time. This collection contained many large and fine examples of Han pottery...

This head fragment from a much larger red sand stone statue made in the 12th century in the Rajasthan region of India exudes confidence and serenity. The su...