Antique Tibetan Buddhist ritualistic bone flute, or kangling. The kangling produces a wailing sound, meant to create a mystical atmosphere during tantric rituals. It is played as a gesture of fearlessness and as a way of cutting off the ego. With silver mounts intricately decorated with floral motifs and inlaid with coral. One of the ends has a silver loop to be worn as a pendant. Provenance Ashby Collection

Dates 19th century Dimensions: 1 1/4" w x 3" long

Antique Tibetan Buddhist ritualistic bone flute, or kangling. The kangling produces a wailing sound, meant to create a mystical atmosphere during tantric rituals. It is played as a gesture of fearlessness and as a way of cutting off the ego. With silver mounts intricately decorated with floral motifs and dragons, inlaid with turquoise. Provenance Ashby Collection.

Dates from 19th century Dimensions: 8 1/2" l x 2 1/2" w

Nepalese stone carving of a four armed Lord Vishnu, standing atop a lotus pedestal, holding in his hands a conch shell, a discus, a lotus blossom, and a mace. From Newar, Kathmandu Valley.

Malla period 16th century

Dimensions: 3 1/4" w x 1 1/2" h x 5 1/4" h

Tibetan thangka painting in reverence to the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. When he is shown having four arms, he is called Chaturbhuja Avalokitesvara. This is his most commonly depicted form. Chatur + bhuja are the two Sanskrit words that mean 'four arms.' He holds a white peony flower in one raised hand, and a stand of mala beads in his other. He is surrounded by various other bodhisattvas, including Mahakala, his wrathful form, below. Two human figures appear in a bed of flowers, and each... Click for details

Antique Tibetan Buddhist double mandala thangka, with the two central deities being Brahma and his wife Saraswati.

Brahma is a leading god and heavenly king in Buddhism. Lord Brahma rules over the heavenly realm of rebirth called the Brahmaloka– the most sought after realm for afterlife and reincarnation within the Buddhist belief system. He is depicted as having 4 faces and is seated in the center of the top mandala in a lotus position with his arms folded in front, thumbs... Click for details

Tibetan thangka painting depicting a wonderful seascape with the Shakyamuni Buddha seated in meditation upon a lotus throne in the clouds near the top of the painting. Two robed figures stand on a large open flower leaf holding offerings to the Buddha. Below them is a floating pink structure with banners topped by Wishing Ball finials. A large man is seated in the center, surrounded by his attendants, and he extends a peach out in reverence to the Buddha. There are various other figures... Click for details

Antique Tibetan carved wooden phurba, a ritualistic Vajrayana Buddhist implement, depicting Nagas or snakes on the blade. Nagas are the entities in nature that associated with illnesses. The entwining serpents are a symbol of medicine and healing. The deity handle, mirroring the three-edges of the blade has three deity faces. Typically, one might be wrathful, one peaceful and one joyful representing Body, Speech and Mind.

Dimensions: 11 1/2" L x 2" W

Rare Tibetan hand-painted lacquer altar cabinet. Original finish with patina. The front three panels depict three faces. The left face has red skin and green hair with eyes opened wide. The middle face is upside down with eyes coming out of its skull, representing the kapala or skull cup used in sacred Tibetan Buddhist ceremonies. The face on the right is called citipati, representing both the eternal dance of death as well as perfect awareness. Two of the panels are hinged and open to the... Click for details

Tibetan repousse copper polychrome mask of Yamataka , a horned yak headed deity wearing a crown of three skulls on its head. Gold gilt ground and painted pigment accentuate the expression of the Yamataka mask.

Yamataka is a violent aspect of the Bodhisattva Manjushri, who assumes this form to vanquish Yama, the god of death. By defeating Yama, the cycle of rebirth (samsara) that prevents enlightenment is broken.

Yamakata, who shares many attributes with Mahakala, ... Click for details

Antique Sino-Tibetan cloisonne enamel bronze container in the form of a kapala or skull cup. The lid has a four prong vajra finial, and is decorated with intricate enamel design of floral scrolls, lotuses, waves, and four points around the vajra finial. The container's interior is done in red enamel, and the base is done in white enamel with a red cranial fissure line to emulate a skull. With carved wooden base.

19th Century

Provenance: From the Ashby... Click for details