Single-Owner Collections

A Tibetan iron and bronze phurba, 17th century, the bronze pommel cast with the three heads of Vajrakila beneath a vajra crown finial, the iron lotus and eternal knot handle above a bronze makala mask, its mouth issuing an iron three-sided tapering blade, length 25.5cm. Provenance: the Alain Presencer Collection.

A Tibetan iron danda or khatvanga, 15th/16th century, the decagonal tapering shaft with fine scroll decoration terminating in a vajra crown terminal, the lotus leaf knop supporting a handle formed as three stacked heads in varying forms of decay beneath a vajra crown finial, length 33.3cm. Provenance: the Alain Presencer Collection. Note: a danda or khatvanga is a tantric staff or wand, typically used during empowerment rituals by eminent Buddhist practitioners. For a danda or khatvanga of similar design, see Bonhams Paris, 15th December 2022, Lot 127.

A Tibetan green jade Buddha pendant, possibly 15th century, one side carved in low relief with a seated Buddha, of arched form with pierced suspension hole to one side, height 6.6cm. Provenance: the Alain Presencer Collection.

A Tibetan bronze figure of a healing horse, 16th century, modelled standing carrying a flaming wish-fulfilling jewel (cintamani) on its back, height 13.5cm, length 15.5cm. Provenance: the Alain Presencer Collection.

A Tibetan gilt bronze figure of a medicine Buddha, 18th century, modelled seated in dhyanasana holding a medicine pot in his left hand, wearing an ornately trimmed robe, his hair tightly curled and rising to a domed usnisa, on a double lotus throne, height 15.4cm. Provenance: the Alain Presencer Collection. Note: a medicine Buddha was an important bodhisattva in Tibetan Buddhism, who represents the healing aspects of all Buddhas.

A Sino-Tibetan gilt bronze figure of Kubera, 18th century, modelled seated wearing an ornate headdress, beaded jewellery, dhoti and celestial scarf, holding a mongoose in his left hand, height 13.4cm. Provenance: the Alain Presencer Collection. Note: Kubera is the god of wealth & prosperity

A Chinese carved lapis lazuli figural panel fragment of Guanyin, Northern Wei dynasty, finely carved wearing a robe, with hair tied up into a domed usnisa, length 11.9cm. Provenance: the Alain Presencer Collection.

A Japanese gilt bronze three-pronged vajra (sankosho), 17th/18th century, the central lotus moulded knop inset with a turquoise bead to each side, flanked by three-pronged terminals, length 13.5cm. Provenance: the Alain Presencer Collection. Note: for an illustration of a similar example, see The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, object number: 1987.151.

A Chinese gilt bronze diminutive figure of a female deity or goddess, Han dynasty, modelled naked in a standing pose, height 5.8cm, together with a Tibetan copper alloy miniature phurba, length 6.6cm, and a bronze miniature vajra, probably 15th century, length 4.1cm. Provenance: the Alain Presencer Collection.

A Khmer carved brown schist head of Buddha, approximately 10th century, finely modelled with open eyes, gently rounded features, full lips and elongated earlobes, wearing a diadem and hair plaited into a cylindrical dome usnisa, height 19.5cm, raised on a grey marble plinth. Provenance: the Alain Presencer Collection.

A Thai bronze Buddha head, 14th century, cast with eyes closed, beneath an ornate headdress and domed usnisa, height 18.5cm, raised on a black metal cube plinth. Provenance: the Alain Presencer Collection.

A Chinese jadeite bead mala necklace, comprising one hundred and eight spherical beads and two larger marker beads, of mottled green tone, length 78cm, bead diameters ranging from 1.3cm to 1.9cm. Provenance: the Alain Presencer Collection.

A Chinese white jade phallus, probably 16th century, length 13.4cm. Provenance: the Alain Presencer Collection.

A Tibetan rock crystal spherical bead mala necklace, comprising one hundred and eight spherical beads with turquoise and black spacer beads, total length 146cm, bead diameters 1.3cm. Provenance: the Alain Presencer Collection.

A Chinese lacquered gilt bronze figure of Buddha, Ming dynasty, modelled seated in dhyanasana with hands held in bhumisparsa mudra, wearing a flowing robe and tightly curled hair rising to a domed usnisa, on a double lotus throne, height 22.2cm. Provenance: the Alain Presencer Collection.

A Chinese bronze figure of Guanyin, probably Tang dynasty, with verdigris patina, modelled seated in lalitasana on a lotus moulded plinth and octagonal base, wearing an ornate headdress, jewellery and celestial scarf, her right hand holding a vase, backed by a pierced scrolling mandorla, height 18cm, together with a circular plinth. Provenance: the Alain Presencer Collection.

A Himalayan cast silvered metal incense burner and cover, 20th century, the domed cover cast and pierced with bud finial above lappet bands and lotus panels, the bowl decorated with birds and flowers above further lotus decoration to the stem, discoidal knop and spreading base, heigh 27.5cm. Provenance: the Alain Presencer Collection.

A Sino-Tibetan brown patinated bronze figure of Padmapani, 17th century, modelled in the Pala period style, seated in lalitasana on the back of a crouching Buddhistic lion with head turned upwards looking at the deity, on a double lotus throne, height 24cm (lotus (padma) flowerhead missing at left shoulder). Provenance: the Alain Presencer Collection. Note: the lotus-bearer Padmapani was a favoured form of Avalokiteshvara, the embodiment of Buddhist compassion.

A Chinese bronze scroll weight, Ming dynasty, finely modelled as a recumbent horse with detailed mane and tail, height 5.4cm, length 6.3cm. Provenance: the Alain Presencer Collection.