Our catalogue > Cabinet of Curosities
We don’t sell objects so much as stories with an object attached. So here are some of the more unusual, quirky objects that we have with interesting stories.
Each piece has been sourced from within the UK, often from old, colonial-era collections.
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Enquiry about object: 8751
Hittite Silver Model of a Long-Horned Bull
Hittite people, (likely) Anatolia, Central Turkey 1750-1200 BC
height: 8.5cm, length: 8.5cm, width: 3.5cm, weight: 136g
Provenance
UK art market
Enquiry about object: 8661
Large South Indian Temple Priest’s Anklet (Kal Chilampu)
Irinjalakuda, Kerala, South India 18th-19th century
width: approximately 24cm, length: 22.8cm, depth: 11.2cm, weight: 3,579g
Provenance
UK art market
Enquiry about object: 8743
Byzantium Bronze Pectoral Reliquary Cross
Constantinople (Istanbul) or possibly Anatolia, Turkey circa 11th century
length: 9.5cm, width: 4.2cm, depth: 1.4cm, weight: 61g
Provenance
private collection, UK; previously with Royal-Athena Galleries, New York;
Enquiry about object: 3403
Tibetan Official’s Turquoise, Pearl & Gold Ear Pendant (Sochi)
Lhasa, Tibet 19th century
length: 11.5cm, weight: 12g
Enquiry about object: 7325
Rare, Nepalese Inscribed & Gilded Copper Buddha’s Footprints Buddhapada Portable Mandala Plaque
Nepal 17th-18th century
diameter: approximately 27cm, weight: 669g
Provenance
UK art market
Enquiry about object: 6521
Andaman Islands Man’s Dance Regalia
Andaman Islands, possibly from the Jarawa Tribe, South Andaman circa 1900
indicative length of headdress (band & tassels): 49cm
Provenance
private collection, London. UK; previously, Charles Wilfred Hext (b.1880-1919)
Enquiry about object: 7207
Fine, Dayak Brass Helmet Ornament
Dayak People, Borneo, Malaysia/Indonesia 19th century
width: 10.6cm, height: approximately 17.5cm, weight: 93g
Provenance
UK art market
Enquiry about object: 7055
Qajar Bird Hunting Whistle & Carved Wooden Gem-Set Case
Persia (Iran) 19th century
length: 16.5cm, weight: 58g
Provenance
Oliver Hoare, London; Christie's, London, Indian and Islamic Works of Art, 20 Apr 2007.
Enquiry about object: 7054
Qajar Bird Hunting Whistle & Carved Ebony Gem-Set Case
Persia (Iran) 19th century
length: 14.8cm, weight: 71g
Provenance
Oliver Hoare, London; Christie's, London, Indian and Islamic Works of Art, 20 Apr 2007.
Enquiry about object: 7148
Tibetan Noble’s Fine Bone & Silk Belt
Tibet 19th century
length (including buckle): 105cm, width: 4.9cm, weight: 226g
Provenance
private collection, Germany.
Enquiry about object: 7005
Early Indian Terracotta Mother Goddess
Mathura District, Uttar Pradesh, Northern India 200-300BC
height: 18.2cm, width: 8.6cm, weight: 420g
Provenance
UK art market
Enquiry about object: 6524
Mongo Woman’s Woven Buttock Shield (Bakonga)
Mongo People, Congo early 20th century
length: approximately 88cm, width: 8.3cm, weight: 157g
Provenance
private collection, London, UK.
Enquiry about object: 6797
Paduang or Kayan Lahwi (Long-Necked) Woman’s Brass Neck Rings & Anklets
Paduang or Kayan Lahwi People, Shan States, Eastern Burma 19th-early 20th century
height (of the longest neck ring): 13.2cm, width (of the wiodest neck ring): 18.3cm, width (of the arm rings): approximately 9cm, combined weight: 4,437g
Provenance
Private collection, UK; collected during colonial times.
Enquiry about object: 6541
Spectacular & Large Pair of Mongolian Silver Ear Ornaments or Temporals with Green Malachite & Coral
Khalkha People, Mongolia 19th-early 20th century
length: 32cm, combined weight: 312g
Provenance
private collection, Netherlands.
Enquiry about object: 6846
Parsi Ritual Silver Ses or Sace Cone (Soparo)
Northern India dated 1933
diameter: 17.3cm, height: 34.5cm, weight: 787g
Provenance
UK art market
Enquiry about object: 4115
Exceptional Collection of 18 Aztec Black-Clay, Tubular, Ear Plugs or Spools
Aztec Civilisation, Capilco, Mexico 14th-15th century
diameter: 2.1cm (smallest), 3.1cm (biggest)
Provenance
UK art market, prior to that Madrid, Spain from before 1974
Enquiry about object: 6523
Mongo Woman’s Beaded & Woven Buttock Shield (Bakonga)
Mongo People, Congo early 20th century
length: approximately 98cm, width of pompom: 12cm, weight: 292g
Provenance
private collection, London, UK.
Enquiry about object: 5969
Burmese Bronze Rice-Noodle Maker
Burma 19th century
height: 15.4cm, width: 22.5cm, depth: 11.4cm, weight: 2,410g
Provenance
European art market
Enquiry about object: 5928
Unusually Tall Ottoman Woman’s Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Wooden Stilted Clogs (Qabqab)
Ottoman Turkey 19th or early 20th century
height to top of toe strap: 30cm, lengths: 22.8cm, widths: 18cm
Provenance
UK art market
Enquiry about object: 6386
Burmese Royal Silk Achiek Cloth Sutra Cover
Burma (Myanmar) 19th century
70cm x 78cm
Enquiry about object: 6132
Ceremonial Dayak Beaded Hat with Pig Tusks
Dayak People, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia 20th century
length: 29cm, width: 23cm, height: 9.5cm
Provenance
UK art market
Enquiry about object: 6144
Colonial Spanish Powder Flask (Yesquero)
Colonial Spanish, Argentina 19th century
length: 7cm (not taking into account the curve), weight: 27.59g
Provenance
UK art market
Enquiry about object: 3466
English Tavern or Publican House Willow Nine-Pin Skittles Set
West Country, England 19th century
heights (approx.) 30cm each, and 40cm for the king pin
Provenance
UK private collection
Enquiry about object: 848
Rare, Finely Carved Coconut Money Box with Silver Mounts (Alcancia)
Spanish Colonial Guatemala 18th century
height: 18cm, length: 19cm, weight: 437g
Provenance
European antiques market.
Enquiry about object: 4676
Rare, Brass Toad-Shaped Flask
Tibet circa 18th century
height (with stopper): 37cm
Provenance
UK art market
Enquiry about object: 3933
Dayak Man’s Ear Ornament (Sabau) of Carved Hornbill Casque (Beak)
Kenyah/Kayan Dayak People, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia 19th-early 20th century
height: 4.6cm, length: 10cm, width: 4.2cm, weight: 26.36g
Provenance
Acquired in the UK, from the estate collection of Dr George Yuille Caldwell (1924-2016). Dr Caldwell, an English-born physician moved to Singapore in the 1950s, from where he built up a collection of mostly Borneo-related textiles and other ethnographica.
Enquiry about object: 5089
Rare Indian Coco-de-Mer Ewer
Northern India Circa 17th century
height: 45cm, width: 25cm, thickness: 18cm, weight: 3,070g
Provenance
UK art market
Enquiry about object: 4313
Eshu Dance Wrist Pendant
Yoruba People, Southern Egbado, Nigeria 19th century
height: 10.2cm
Provenance
private collection, London.
Enquiry about object: 4274
Woman’s Iron Pubic Cover (Cache Sexe)
Kirdi and Matakam People, North Cameroon 19th-early 20th century
length: 37.5cm
Provenance
private collection, UK