Quite stunning! The Maitland Smith company was founded in Hong Kong by a well-known antique dealer. Besides designing quality 18th century furniture, Maitland Smith also scoured the globe in search of quality antique furnishings to supplement his furniture. This elephant was cast in the Philippines and they put their label on it.   Below it’s […]

  In the Angkorian style, this excellent sculpture depicts a naga (serpent) as the protector of Buddha. The Buddha, seated in the Virasana pose, is meditating on three graduated coils of the serpent king, Mucalinda. This ancient Virasana pose should not be confused with the Hero pose currently used in yoga (a kneeling post). Ancient […]

A stunning necklace with a rich history. Egg shaped brass beads with stones inserted. Just look at all the photos.

    The mythical deity – Garuda – has a ton of spiritual significance in Hinduism and Buddhism. In Hinduism, Garuda is most often found mounted on the back of Vishnu, as the god’s protector.   Here the Garuda – with a snake in its beak – symbolizes the predominance of intellect / power over […]

    There are four major styles of silk art embroidery with Sichuan (Shu Xiu) being the oldest. The emphasis – for this style – is on even stitching, coloration and local creativity. Antique gold frame.   These are exquisite pieces that could be re-framed or left “as is” to hang and enjoy. The glass […]

    Absolutely NOTHING beats an antique pair of these creatures with the head of a dragon, body of a horse and scales of a carp fish. The energy, the detail and the workmanship is spectacular!!   It is believed that if you look into the eyes of the female Chi Lin it will bring […]

  A true tantrik (a doctrine of enlightenment of the oneness of one’s self and the visible world; combines elements of Hinduism and paganism including magical and mystical elements like mantras, mudras and exotic rites; especially influential in Tibet). Kapala were made from a human skull bone / cap, decorated with metals / gems and […]

What a great gift! This reference book folds out (accordion-fashion) to become a one-of-a-kind art reproduction. This striking 36-foot-long Qing dynasty scroll is a reproduction of an 18th Century piece of art and includes more than 600 large and small buddhas, bodhisattvas, arhats, devas, and historical figures; plus over 2,000 images of animals, flowers, Buddhist […]

    A Majapahit Kingdom – one of the last major Hindu empires of the Malay archipelago – in eastern Java from 1293 to around 1500. The Majapahit society developed a high degree of sophistication in both commerical and artistic activities . . . yielding a cosmopolitan population where literature and art flourished.   Based […]

    The phurba – aka kila – was and is used as a ritual implement to signify stability on sacred grounds/earth during ceremonies.   As a tool of exorcism, the kila can hold demons in place . . . binding and pinning down negative energies from the mind stream of an entity or person. […]