Bhutanese Asian Art and Furniture

These openwork cast alloy brooches are a contemporary example of Bhutanese cloak fasteners known as koma. Worn by women to secure a traditional garment known as kira, the fasteners w...

These openwork silver brooches are Bhutanese cloak fasteners known as koma. Worn by women to secure a traditional garment known as kira, the fasteners were secured to one's clothing at the shoulders and supported by a chain that ran behind the neck. This pair of koma are of round form with a domed openwork front accented with gold plating and a central turquoise bead. The pair is connected by a chain of eternal knot...

A very rare, completely hand made piece from Tibet. Made of thick leather with embellishments of silver flowers, the front of the pouch features a highly valuable antique Tibetan coral bead...

Early 20th C Bhutanese ceremonial cloth / Chagsi Pangkheb Composed of three panels, all woven on a back-strap loom, chagsi pangkheb were used for a...

Antique Tibetan style religious storage box / table from Bhutan, 19th century or earlier. This type of box would have been most commonly found in a village monastery, where it would have been used to store especially important thangkas (Tibetan Buddhist paintings used in ritual, teaching and spiritual practice) or other revered ritual items or texts. The front of the box is decorated with floral and vegetative motifs indicating life and abundance. The top of the panel depicts the Wheel of the Dharma (Teaching) flanked by two deer, a reference to the Buddha's first teaching at Sarnath; on each side of the sliding door is a jewel emitting mongoose (Nakala), bringing forth the jewels of wisdom or material wealth. The sliding door is adorned with flaming jewels, the unquenchable Teaching of the Buddha. On the left panel are more symbols of abundance and of the Teaching - foliage, a deer, mongooses and flaming jewels. The back panel is a powerful presentation of a temple palace (Fodhang) in a celestial landscape. The right panel mirrors the left utilizing the same symbols. The bottom edge of the base has a lotus throne motif. The construction is of wood, and has quite some age to it. Remnants of original color are discernible to a greater or lesser degree throughout. This type of box / table is sometimes referred to as a construction table or box because it is made up of individual pieces and panels that are assembled together by fitting the front, side, back and small door panels into grooves cut into the bottom and top boards -- a kind of knock down construction. Originally the table was meant to facilitate assembly and disassembly as needed, but for stability's sake, we have assembled it using braces...

Bhutanese silk woven Kira Textile, Purple. From the royal weavers of Bhutan, this kira textile is a rectangular weaving worn as an ankle length dress by B...

Bhutanese silk woven Kira textile, purple. From the royal weavers of Bhutan, this Kira textile is a rectangular weaving worn as an ankle length dress by B...

Bhutanese silk woven kira textile, purple. From the royal weavers of Bhutan, this kira textile is a rectangular weaving worn as an ankle length dress by B...

Bhutanese silk woven Kira textile, purple. From the royal weavers of Bhutan, this kira textile is a rectangular weaving worn as an ankle length dress by B...

A superb ceremonial mask from Bhutan, used in ritual ceremonies. Made of polychromed wood, this ox mask is a colorful mosaic of red coral, bone, turquoise and lapis lazuli, with fine...

From the royal weavers of Bhutan, this kira textile is a rectangular weaving worn as an ankle length dress by Bhutanese women. This example was originally...