Large Indo-Persian Tray in Embossed Brass, India 19th Century

Superb Rouen wyvern platter ("à la Guivre"), 18th century France. Exquisite and rare museum quality piece. Decorations of a parrot carrying a branch, butterflies, an aquatic landscape and an Asian wyvern dragon. These dragons are different from those found in European fairy tales and films. In China, they're in the arts, zodiac signs and festivals ("Dragon Dance" at Chinese New Year). They embody power, perseverance... Linked to the sky and water, they have meteorological powers, such as making it rain. So they often live in tumultuous rivers, at the bottom of oceans... hence the lake over which this dragon "flies". What's more, this earthenware dragon...

Beautiful and large raku covered bowl, France 1970s, signed AR inside a circle. Pink, yellow, brown and green colours with iridescent hues. Dimensions in cm ( H x D ) : 18 x 28 Sec...

Beautiful incense burner in the shape of a straw basket with a praying mantis sitting on top. Bronze, Japan 19th century. Good condition, oxidation, one leg missing from the prayi...

Stunning and rare Omani tribal necklace in gold and silver featuring eight Burgau thalers dated 1780 and a large amulet box (Hirz) also in gold and silver. 19th century. Very good condition. Preserved and professionally framed. Dimensions of the necklace: 52 x 30 x 3 Dimensions of the frame: 70 x 47 x 5 Secure shipping. This fine Omani necklace of silver and gold comprises two strands of spiky, seed pod-like silver beads; gold-wrapped beads; eight silver Maria Theresa thaler coins; and a large silver and gold amulet box, with multiple chain tassels each of which finishes with a square-shaped pendant cut from sheet silver. The cigar-shaped amulet box called hirz would have contained some Koranic verse or religious text. Such a spectacular display of wealth would only have been worn at times of important festivities such as marriage celebrations. Maria Theresa thalers were made in Austria since the reign of Empress Maria Theresa of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Empress died in 1780 and since that time, all thalers that were subsequently struck were minted with that date regardless of the actual year that they were produced. The coins achieved such a level of trust for their silver content (which is 83.3% silver) in the Middle East that neither the design not the date was varied, and so for more than 200 years the coins were used as an international currency among the tribes and the states of the Middle East, in much the same way as the Spanish dollar was used as an international currency at the time elsewhere. The thalers were used to complete most important transactions locally and were also given as dowries. They were also an important source of silver and were melted locally for jewellery. The coins made their way to the ports of the Red Sea, Egypt and northern Africa from the ports of Genoa, Trieste, Livorno and Marseille. European traders used the coins to buy precious materials from the Gulf and northern Africa which it desired – commodities such as spices, coffee, gum Arabic, indigo, pearls, and tortoise shell. The importance and the beauty of the coins saw them incorporated into local jewellery most particularly in Oman and Yemen. References Al-Jadir, S., Arab & Islamic Silver, Stacey International, 1981. Harrigan, P., ‘Tales of a Thaler’, Saudi Aramco World, January/February 2003. Hawley, R., Omani Silver, Longman, 1978. Hawley, R., Silver: The Traditional Art of Oman, Stacey International, 2000. Rajab, J.S., Silver Jewellery of Oman, Tareq Rajab Museum, 1998. Ransom, M., Silver Treasures from the Land of Sheba: Regional Yemeni Jewelry...

This beautifully crafted round tray showcases designs typical of Qajar art. Made from brass, the tray features detailed engravings that reflect the rich arti...

19th century Mughal Indo Persian fine antique brass round tray hand chased with Islamic calligraphy in Mameluke style in the center. 19th cent...

Asian Mughal Rajasthani Large Polished Round Brass Tray with Crest Edges. Asian Antique Islamic Mughal Rajasthani Large Polished round Brass Tray with crest edges, 3o inches in diameter. Rare find, large antique...

Large vintage South Asian solid brass serving tray - high quality with a warm aged patina - featuring a hand etched floral and leaf pattern throughout - raised border and rim - rolle...