Catalog (311)

Rare 18th Century Chinese Helmet with Original Dragon Embroidery Intact. Height: 17 inches, 43 cm.

One-Of-A-Kind 18th Century Korean Staff Sword, Changpogeom, a style of sword unique to Korea, with seven gold inlay dots on each side representing the Seven Star Spirit (Chilseong), an ancient Daoist deity that controls fortune. Antique Changpogeom are rare. It's a staff with a fighting blade inside. And a Chilseong Changpogeom (Seven Star Staff Sword) is so rare that this may be the only surviving example. It is a large weapon, 43 inches (110cm) with a a 32 inch (81cm) blade, and the blade is a very high quality fighting blade. This is truly a museum quality sword.

18th Century Mongolian Thangka of a Guardian Deity General on a White Horse. 27 x 19.25 inches, 68.5 x 49 cm.

Rare Early 18th Century Bhutanese Thangka Painting of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), founder of Tibetan Buddhism. 26.5 x 21 inches, 67.25 x 53.25 cm.

Very Rare Calligraphy by Kang Se Hwang aka Pyo Am (1713-1791), artist, calligrapher, art scholar and critic, and one of the most important figures and the most influential scholar-painter of 18th Century Korea. Calligraphy by Kang Se Hwang is so rare that the only other example that we know of in America is a very similar work in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, illustrated on pages 172-173 of the recently published, Pathways to Korean Culture: Paintings of the Joseon Dynasty by Burglind Jungmann. The left and right margins bear the signed and sealed authentication of the most renowned expert on Korean calligraphy, Kim Sun Won aka Mae San, celebrated calligrapher and host of the television show Jin Pum Myung Pum, the Korean equivalent of the Antiques Road Show. Mae San's authentications are highly valued and can be found on pieces in museum collections throughout Korea. 25 x 11 inches, 63.5 x 28 cm.

Only Pair of Korean Enlightened Saints (Nahan) Paintings Ever Offered for Sale. Set in beautiful landscapes, the Nahan on the right has subdued a demon who is supplicating before him. 18th Century. The tables and books display the Korean reverse perspective technique that would later be made popular in 19th century Chaekgeorri paintings of scholar's bookshelves. (Reverse perspective did not exist in Chinese and Japanese paintings of the 18th and 19th centuries.) Colors on paper. 30 x 13.5 inches, 76 x 34 cm each.

17th Century Tibetan Thangka of Avalokitesvara with original silk mount and silk cover from a renowned and published collection. Mount: 46 x 28 inches (117 x 71 cm), Painting: 28 x 20 inches (71 x 51 cm).

The Only Antique Korean Painting of "Buddha with the Sun and Moon Spirit" Ever Offered for Sale outside of Korea. And perhaps the only 18th century Korean painting with this subject matter ever offered anywhere. Exceedingly Rare and Beautiful. The pair of deities seated at the front of the painting from right to left are the Spirits of the Sun (Ilgangcheonja) and the Moon (Weolgangcheonja). They are known collectively as Ilweol Sinjang. The celestial orbs are in their crowns and overhead. The Sun Spirit's sunlight scatters darkness and misfortune and brings prosperity. The Moon Spirit relieves people's anxiety with moonlight. Buddha is attended by boys (Dongja) on each side of him. Frame: 40 x 23.5 inches, 101 x 60 cm. Painting: 33.5 x 18 inches, 85 x 46 cm.

17th Century White Tara Tibetan Thangka. The White Tara goddess symbolizes transcendent knowledge and purity. In ancient Tibet, it was believed that Tara was reincarnated in every virtuous and pious woman. She was born from the eye of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion, and became his wife. Most of these thangka were photographed through glass frames, so there may be a little blurriness. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum. Mineral pigments on silk. 12 x 10 inches, 30 x 25 cm.

17th Century White Tara Tibetan Thangka. The White Tara goddess symbolizes transcendent knowledge and purity. In ancient Tibet, it was believed that Tara was reincarnated in every virtuous and pious woman. She was born from the eye of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion, and became his wife. Most of these thangka were photographed through glass frames, so there may be a little blurriness. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum. Mineral pigments on silk. 11 x 9 inches, 28 x 23 cm.

17th Century Bhaisajyaguru Thangka. Antique Tibetan Thangka of the Medicine Buddha seated upon a lotus throne, holding the medicine bowl, and surrounded by Heavenly clouds and four Bodhisattva. Most of these thangka were photographed through glass frames, so there may be a little blurriness. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum. Mineral pigments on silk. 16 x 12 inches, 40 x 30 cm.

17th Century Vajravarahi Tibetan Thangka. Fine Antique Tibetan Thangka of the Sakti of Samvara, Vajravarahi (Tibetan: Hod-zer Chan-ma), Goddess of War and Victory, with a necklace of skulls, a staff of skulls, a skull bowl, and a crown of skulls. She is dancing on a lifeless body surrounded by a mandorla of flames. Most of these thangka were photographed through glass frames, so there may be a little blurriness. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum. Mineral pigments and traces of gold on silk. 17 x 13 inches, 43 x 33 cm.

17th Century Tibetan Amitabha Thangka, 46.5 x 25.5 inches, 118 x 65 cm. Most of these thangka were photographed through glass frames, so there may be a little blurriness. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum.

17th Century Tibetan Arhat Thangka, 36 x 26 inches, 91.5 x 66 cm. Most of these thangka were photographed through glass frames, so there may be a little blurriness. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum.

17th Century Tibetan Avalokitesvara Thangka, 29.5 x 21 inches, 75 x 53.5 cm. Most of these thangka were photographed through glass frames, so there may be a little blurriness. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum.

17th Century Tibetan Bhaisajyaguru Thangka, 27.75 x 20 inches, 70.5 x 51 cm. Most of these thangka were photographed through glass frames, so there may be a little blurriness. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum.

17th Century Tibetan Green Tara Thangka, 49.5 x 29.5 inches, 126 x 75 cm. Most of these thangka were photographed through glass frames, so there may be a little blurriness. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum.

17th Century Tibetan Padmasambhava Thangka, 24.25 x 18 inches, 61.5 x 45.5 cm. Most of these thangka were photographed through glass frames, so there may be a little blurriness. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum.