Lot 566
Tibetan Ladakh Frontpiece | Elephant Head | Turquoise, Carnelian & Silver
Tibetan Ladakh Frontpiece | Elephant Head | Turquoise, Carnelian & Silver
Starting Bid: $1,000
(0 Bids)
Tibet, ca. 1st half of 20th century. Tibet, early 20th century CE. A large and spectacular ceremonial horse or yak frontpiece of exceptional richness, designed to adorn the head of a prized animal during religious festivals or ceremonial processions. The piece is constructed on a cloth backing in the form of a stylized elephant head — the elephant being a powerful symbol of wisdom, strength, and auspiciousness in Tibetan Buddhist iconography — with large woolly textile ears and a long trunk densely covered with natural turquoise nuggets.
The central field is set with five large oval carnelian stone brooches, each mounted in a silver frame inset with a turquoise border, the deep red of the carnelian contrasting magnificently against the green turquoise ground. An upper oval silver frame brooch is set entirely with turquoise stones, and cowrie shells are arranged in a triangular pattern at the tip of the trunk — cowries being ancient symbols of prosperity and protection across Asia. Three long hair braids extend dramatically from the lower ears, completing the ceremonial grandeur of the piece. Size: 33”L x 15”W (83.8 x 38.1cm).
Provenance: Private USA. collection. Ex. Nina Sidley collection, Denver CO.
SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.
Item #
71499
- Condition: Intact, overall excellent condition. Professionally cleaned and sewn to a cloth backing on a wooden stretcher.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer
Shipping
Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense
Artemis Fine Arts
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 30% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $749 | $25 |
| $750 | $1,499 | $50 |
| $1,500 | $2,999 | $100 |
| $3,000 | $7,499 | $250 |
| $7,500 | $14,999 | $500 |
| $15,000 + | $1,000 |