Here is a true gem of Americana folk art. A naive rendition in the manner of Grandma Moses, only better. We have a lovely Christmas card view of a country farm and horse  More »

Here is a true gem of Americana folk art. A naive rendition in the manner of Grandma Moses, only better. We have a lovely Christmas card view of a country farm and horse drawn sleigh under a bold crescent moon. Wonderful...Discovered in Sacramento, California. Dynamite collectors piece. What a great Christmas Card! Dimensions 8 1/2" x 11" Condition: Excellent'Unsigned.   « Less

Mesopotamian Zoomorphic Stone Sculpture - AM.0393Origin: Central Asi Circa: 3000 BC to 1500 BCDimensions: 3" (7.6cm) high x 4.85" (12.3cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern  More »

Mesopotamian Zoomorphic Stone Sculpture - AM.0393Origin: Central Asi Circa: 3000 BC to 1500 BCDimensions: 3" (7.6cm) high x 4.85" (12.3cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Medium: Stone   « Less

Babylonian Terracotta Plaque of a Priest Making an Offering to a King - RP.023Origin: Central Asia Circa: 2100 BC to 1900 BCDimensions: 4" (10.2cm) high x 5.25" (13.3cm) wide  More »

Babylonian Terracotta Plaque of a Priest Making an Offering to a King - RP.023Origin: Central Asia Circa: 2100 BC to 1900 BCDimensions: 4" (10.2cm) high x 5.25" (13.3cm) wide Collection: Near East Style: Babylonian Medium: Terracotta   « Less

Bronze Figure - RP.070Origin: Central Asia Circa: 3300 BC to 2500 BCDimensions: 6.25" (15.9cm) high x 3.5" (8.9cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Style: Near Eastern

Bronze Figure - RP.070Origin: Central Asia Circa: 3300 BC to 2500 BCDimensions: 6.25" (15.9cm) high x 3.5" (8.9cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Style: Near Eastern   « Less

Bronze Figure - RP.071Origin: Central Asia Circa: 3300 BC to 2500 BCDimensions: 6.25" (15.9cm) high x 3.5" (8.9cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Medium: Bronze

Bronze Figure - RP.071Origin: Central Asia Circa: 3300 BC to 2500 BCDimensions: 6.25" (15.9cm) high x 3.5" (8.9cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Medium: Bronze   « Less

Bronze Figure - RP.073Origin: Central Asia Circa: 3300 BC to 2500 BCDimensions: 4.5" (11.4cm) high x 2.75" (7.0cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Medium: Bronze

Bronze Figure - RP.073Origin: Central Asia Circa: 3300 BC to 2500 BCDimensions: 4.5" (11.4cm) high x 2.75" (7.0cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Medium: Bronze   « Less

Seljuk Gold Arm Band - AM.0356, Origin: Central Asian, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 4.5 " (11.4cm) high x 4" (10.2cm) wide, Collection: Jewelry, Style: Seljuk  More »

Seljuk Gold Arm Band - AM.0356, Origin: Central Asian, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 4.5 " (11.4cm) high x 4" (10.2cm) wide, Collection: Jewelry, Style: Seljuk Dynasty, Medium: Gold. In the 9th century, hordes of nomadic Turkic horseman living on the outskirts of the Muslim world began to migrate westward into the heart of Central Asia. By the 10 century, a branch known as the House of Seljuk had broken off from the Oghuz confederation of Turkomen tribesmen, arrived into mainland Persia, and settled in the province of Khurasan. Overtime, the Seljuks converted to Islam and began to adopt the Persian language and culture. In the 11th century, the Seljuks set up an independent state under their leader Tugrul Bey with its capital in Isfahan, initially under the auspices of the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad. The arts thrived during the Seljuk period as the Turkic rulers patronized Persian culture, arts, and literature.   « Less

Gilded figure of a seated Moonlight Avalokitesvara (Guanyin), seated on a craggy rock pedestal and slighly bent sideway, with hands cross on her knee, one holding what seems  More »

Gilded figure of a seated Moonlight Avalokitesvara (Guanyin), seated on a craggy rock pedestal and slighly bent sideway, with hands cross on her knee, one holding what seems like a scroll. Guanyin, the bodhisattva of mercy and compassion was the most venerated image of the Mahayana pantheon and exerted a tremendous influence throughout the Ming and Qing periods, being depicted in both sculptural works in wood, bronze and blanc de Chine ceramics. The confession of the Great Vehicle, Mahayana (chin.: Dasheng), spread from Kashmir, Gandhara, Sogdia and Inner Asia into China, and further to Korea and Japan. It teaches that salvation is possible to all sentient beings because they possess the Buddha nature in them and hence all have the potentiality of being enlightened. Enlightenment is simply achieved by faith and devotion to Buddha and the religious ideal, the Bodhisattva (chin.: Pusa), Pratyekabuddha (chin.: Pizhifo) or Arhat (chin.: Aluohan, short: Luohan). These beings, though qualified to enter nirvana, delay their final entry in order to bring every sentient being across the sea of misery to the calm shores of enlightenment. The most important Bodhisattvas are Manjushri (chin.: Wenshushili), the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, Avalokitesvara ("Observing the Sounds of the World", chin.: Guanshiyin, short: Guanyin, or Guanzizai), the Bodhisattva of Compassion, and Samantabhadra ("Universal Goodness", chin.: Puxian), the Meditation Teacher. Buddha appears in different shapes, according to the belief that Buddha appears in every age in a special appearance, like Amitabha (Amitayus, "Buddha of Endless Light", chin.: Namo Amituofo, jap.: Amida Butsu) or Vairocana "Universal Illuminator" or Lokesvaraja (chin.: Pilushena, short: Lushena), the Buddha of the Past; Maitreya (chin.: Milefo), the Buddha of Future. The elongated features of this Guanyin, the soft draping gilt garments and her relaxed posture would seem to indicate a mid Ming date. - (LA.561)   « Less

The pair of tall courtesans are here portrayed standing with hands crossed on the front, the abundant white long vest covering the pink gown underneath, the shoulders with an  More »

The pair of tall courtesans are here portrayed standing with hands crossed on the front, the abundant white long vest covering the pink gown underneath, the shoulders with an ochre blouse topped by a pink shawl surrounding the upper arms. The up-turned curved shoes just visible underneath. The vest still retains the original floral patterns that would have once embellish the entire figure. Both ladies wear their hair swept up in a large chignon that would have in real life been kept in shape by hidden superstructures in a style common during the high Tang period in the 8th century CE. Their moon-shaped faces are blushed, with large full cheeks, small vermilion lips and a decorative roundel placed on the front. This Tang beauty ideal was indeed eulogised by the famous contemporary poet Fang Gan (d. 888 C.E) who immortalised it in verses by writing: “ the highs and lows of those vermilion lips imitate cherries, half covered breasts are snow on a sunny day”.   « Less

Bronze Figure - RP.074Origin: Central Asia Circa: 3300 BC to 25 BCDimensions: 4.5" (11.4cm) high x 2.5" (6.4cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Medium: Bronze

Bronze Figure - RP.074Origin: Central Asia Circa: 3300 BC to 25 BCDimensions: 4.5" (11.4cm) high x 2.5" (6.4cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Medium: Bronze   « Less