Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art (9)

A fine Antique New Guinea pacific island feast bowl hand carved from one solid hardwood log of the finest quality carving and form. A museum quality piece measuring approx. 29 inches in length a fine addition to any collection of interior. The huge feast bowls of the Admiralty Islands off the north coast of New Guinea are among the most impressive ritual vessels in Oceania. Widely used in the archipelago, they are thought to have been created by the Matankol people of Lou Island, both for local use and for exchange with neighboring groups. The enormous bowls formerly were used to display and serve large quantities of food during ceremonial feasts. The body was carved from a single block of wood, but the handles often were made separately. At times, the handles include stylized human or animal imagery, and the spiral forms seen here have been interpreted variously as representations of pig’s tusks, snail shells, or the curling tails of reptiles or cuscus (a local marsupial).

Olmec Jade Mask Pendant Origin: Mexico, Circa: 1200 BC to 900 BC, Dimensions: 3 5/8 high x 2.5 wide, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Olmec, Medium: Jade.

A beautiful antique standing gilt bronze Buddha, Thailand. Mid 19th Century. Standing in the fearless gesture (abhaya mudra) with arms bent & palms forward. In good antique condition losses to the gold gilt wear commensurate of age. A fine example would be a nice addition to any collection or decor. Measuring 8ʺW × 5ʺD × 20ʺH The Rattanakosin kingdom is one of the most powerful kingdoms in the history of Siam. Unlike Sukothai and Lanna styles, which vanished, Rattanakosin style was the continuation of Ayutthaya style and quite different from other styles. The material of choice was bronze

A fine antique Chinese carved zitan wood Buddha or Bodhisattva Monk figure. Exquisite artistic finely carved details from one solid piece of Zitan wood the hardest of all woods very rare. Carved features as in the image of a carved bamboo stock Chinese date mark on reverse. Measuring 18.5 inches tall or 47 cm. A museum quality piece.

A original antique Chinese Stoneware with white glaze (Cizhou ware) jar let from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) Measuring approximately 2.5" high and 3" wide. In very good antique condition. This fine quality Chinese celadon jarlet was probably exported to South East Asia from mainland China to Southeast Asia from mainland China. This particular piece has a good shape and glaze. The glazed ware was made extensively in China by the fourth century AD, and it was exported to South-East Asia from the time of the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279).

An ancient Chinese Han Dynasty earthenware cocoon jar circa 206 BC-220 AD, with traces of original hand painted design motif. Cocoon jars a name derived for its the resemblance with the shape of a silk worm cocoon. They were originally used as wine storage vessels. This is a beautiful example in good ancient condition but for normal wear to surfaces. DIMENSIONS 12ʺW × 8ʺD × 10ʺH

This image of the Buddha is in a naturalistic style most probably prompted by colonial influences. It has been carved in wood, lacquered and gilded and inset with glass fragments backed with coloured foil (known as hman-zi- shwei-cha) and overlaid thayo work, a process whereby thin, rolled strands of lacquer and ash putty are applied in patterns. The image is in the Mandalay style and shows the Buddha seated in vajrasana, with his right hand gesturing to the earth in the bhumisparsa mudra position. It is probably the most characteristic form of religious sculpture in Burma (Lowry, 1974). The posture, known as 'calling the earth to witness', represents the moment when the Buddha was seated in meditation under the Bodhi tree during the evening before his enlightenment. Mara asked him to name anyone who would give evidence that he had given alms, and the Buddha motioned to the earth with his right hand and said that the earth would bear witness to that - in a previous incarnation when he was known as Vessantara, he had given alms to such an extent that the earth had begun to quake. The image shows the Buddha seated on a low platform or socle and dressed in ample robes with naturalistic folds and pleating. Earlier images of the Buddha across Southeast Asia tended to show the monastic robes in a much more schematic way. The eyes have been inlaid with a white material, usually described as mother-of-pearl, with black pupils probably painted on with black lacquer. The cranial protuberance (unisha) is rounded and the head decorated with tight curls in low relief. Unusually, the curls are arrayed in a pattern on the back of the head, rather than being in a more typical, somewhat random manner. The image has been lacquered with black lacquer and then gilded. Overall, the image is very sculptural and decorative: the naturalistic flow of the robes, and the refinement of the face, are particularly pleasing.37"T x 32"W x 24"D. In good antique condition some minor losses and age cracking.

Original antique 19th century Japanese Woodblock Print by KUNISADA (AKA TOYOKUNI III, 1786-1864). Presented matted and framed. In good antique condition some surface soiling commensurate of age. Kunisada Utagawa was born in 1786 in Honjo, in the outskirts of Tokyo, the capital of Japan, then called Edo. His father died when he was about one year old. But he had left his son a hereditary ferry-boat license which provided a safe income. In contrast to so many other ukiyo-e artists like for instance Kuniyoshi Utagawa or his student Yoshitoshi Tsukioka, Kunisada never had to experience any financial hardships during his lifetime. The idea of a hereditary ferry-boat license seems strange to us today. You must know that the Japanese society of the Edo period (1603-1868) was extremely rigid. Your place in life was defined by your birth. If you were born as the son of a farmer, your destiny was to be a farmer for your whole life. Another example was the samurai warrior class. You could not become a samurai. You were born as a samurai.

A original antique Chinese Celadon pottery jar let from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) with Chinoiserie designs under glaze. Measuring approximately 2 3/4" high and 3 3/4" wide. In very good antique condition. This fine quality Chinese celadon jarlet was probably exported to South East Asia from mainland China to Southeast Asia from mainland China. This particular piece has a good olive green glaze with two handles near the rim. Having this Chinese green-glaze ware in this collection may signify Chinese influence on Southeast Asian ceramics. For example, typical Sawankhalok green-glazed ware was largely influenced by Chinese green-glazed ware. The green glazed ware was made extensively in China by the fourth century AD, and it was exported to South-East Asia from the time of the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279).