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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7207

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    Fine, Dayak Brass Helmet Ornament

    Dayak People, Borneo, Malaysia/Indonesia
    19th century

    width: 10.6cm, height: approximately 17.5cm, weight: 93g

    Available - Click for more images and videos

    Provenance

    UK art market

    7055

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      Qajar Bird Hunting Whistle & Carved Wooden Gem-Set Case

      Persia (Iran)
      19th century

      length: 16.5cm, weight: 58g

      Available - Click for more images and videos

      Provenance

      Oliver Hoare, London; Christie's, London, Indian and Islamic Works of Art, 20 Apr 2007.

      7054

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        Qajar Bird Hunting Whistle & Carved Ebony Gem-Set Case

        Persia (Iran)
        19th century

        length: 14.8cm, weight: 71g

        Available - Click for more images and videos

        Provenance

        Oliver Hoare, London; Christie's, London, Indian and Islamic Works of Art, 20 Apr 2007.

        7134

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          Pair of Indian Silver Deer for a Religious Altar

          India, Bombay (Mumbai) or the Deccan
          19th century

          width of base: 4.3cm, length of base: 8.2cm, height: 9.6cm, combined weight: 355g

          Available - Click for more images and videos

          Provenance

          UK art market

          7148

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            Tibetan Noble’s Fine Bone & Silk Belt

            Tibet
            19th century

            length (including buckle): 105cm, width: 4.9cm, weight: 226g

            Available - Click for more images and videos

            Provenance

            private collection, Germany.

            7005

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              Early Indian Terracotta Mother Goddess

              Mathura District, Uttar Pradesh, Northern India
              200-300BC

              height: 18.2cm, width: 8.6cm, weight: 420g

              Available - Click for more images and videos

              Provenance

              UK art market

              6524

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                Mongo Woman’s Woven Buttock Shield (Bakonga)

                Mongo People, Congo
                early 20th century

                length: approximately 88cm, width: 8.3cm, weight: 157g

                Available - Click for more images and videos

                Provenance

                private collection, London, UK.

                6797

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                  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

                  Available - Click for more images and videos

                  Provenance

                  Private collection, UK; collected during colonial times.

                  6541

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                    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

                    Available - Click for more images and videos

                    Provenance

                    private collection, Netherlands.

                    6846

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                      Parsi Ritual Silver Ses or Sace Cone (Soparo)

                      Northern India
                      dated 1933

                      diameter: 17.3cm, height: 34.5cm, weight: 787g

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                      Provenance

                      UK art market

                      6700

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                        Tibetan Rosary of Human Bone Beads (Mi Mgo’i Phreng Ba)

                        Tibet
                        19th century

                        length: approximately 54cm, weight: 96g

                        Sold

                        Provenance

                        private collection, London, UK.

                        6521

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                          Andaman Islands Man’s Dance Regalia

                          Andaman Islands, possibly from the Jarawa Tribe, South Andaman
                          circa 1900

                          indicative length of headdress (band & tassels): 49cm

                          Available - Click for more images and videos

                          Provenance

                          private collection, London. UK; previously, Charles Wilfred Hext (b.1880-1919)

                          3023

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                            Indian Painted Wooden Portable Shrine for the Jagannathi Trio

                            Orissa or Rajasthan, India
                            circa 1920

                            height: 38.5cm, width with all panels fold away: 19cm; with panels extended: 73cm

                            Available - Click for more images and videos

                            Provenance

                            UK art market

                            4115

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                              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)

                              Available - Click for more images and videos

                              Provenance

                              UK art market, prior to that Madrid, Spain from before 1974

                              6523

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                                Mongo Woman’s Beaded & Woven Buttock Shield (Bakonga)

                                Mongo People, Congo
                                early 20th century

                                length: approximately 98cm, width of pompom: 12cm, weight: 292g

                                Available - Click for more images and videos

                                Provenance

                                private collection, London, UK.

                                5969

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                                  Burmese Bronze Rice-Noodle Maker

                                  Burma
                                  19th century

                                  height: 15.4cm, width: 22.5cm, depth: 11.4cm, weight: 2,410g

                                  Available - Click for more images and videos

                                  Provenance

                                  European art market

                                  5928

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                                    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

                                    Available - Click for more images and videos

                                    Provenance

                                    UK art market

                                    6386

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                                      Burmese Royal Silk Achiek Cloth Sutra Cover

                                      Burma (Myanmar)
                                      19th century

                                      70cm x 78cm

                                      Available - Click for more images and videos
                                      6132

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                                        Ceremonial Dayak Beaded Hat with Pig Tusks

                                        Dayak People, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
                                        20th century

                                        length: 29cm, width: 23cm, height: 9.5cm

                                        Available - Click for more images and videos

                                        Provenance

                                        UK art market

                                        6144

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                                          Colonial Spanish Powder Flask (Yesquero)

                                          Colonial Spanish, Argentina
                                          19th century

                                          length: 7cm (not taking into account the curve), weight: 27.59g

                                          Available - Click for more images and videos

                                          Provenance

                                          UK art market

                                          5471

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                                            Gilded-Silver Mounted, Double-Sided, Pectoral Reliquary Cross with Carved Steatite (Enkolpia)

                                            Mount Athos, Macedonian Greece
                                            15th century

                                            total length of chain (circumference as worn): 72cm, length of cross (without coin): 7.3cm, width of cross: 4.5cm, thickness of cross: 1.1cm, weight: 97g

                                            Sold

                                            Provenance

                                            UK art market

                                            3466

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                                              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

                                              Available - Click for more images and videos

                                              Provenance

                                              UK private collection

                                              848

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                                                Rare, Finely Carved Coconut Money Box with Silver Mounts (Alcancia)

                                                Spanish Colonial Guatemala
                                                18th century

                                                height: 18cm, length: 19cm, weight: 437g

                                                Available - Click for more images and videos

                                                Provenance

                                                European antiques market.

                                                4676

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                                                  Rare, Brass Toad-Shaped Flask

                                                  Tibet
                                                  circa 18th century

                                                  height (with stopper): 37cm

                                                  Available - Click for more images and videos

                                                  Provenance

                                                  UK art market

                                                  2896

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                                                    Rare & Unusual Ostrich Egg & Walrus Tusk Indian Tea Caddy with Silver Mounts

                                                    Kutch, India
                                                    circa 1880

                                                    height: 25cm, weight: 785g

                                                    Available - Click for more images and videos

                                                    Provenance

                                                    UK art market

                                                    4658

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                                                      Finely Carved South Indian Nut with Silver Mounts

                                                      South India, probably Madras
                                                      circa 1800

                                                      length: 10.2cm, weight: 108g

                                                      Sold

                                                      Provenance

                                                      UK art market

                                                      3933

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                                                        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

                                                        Available - Click for more images and videos

                                                        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.

                                                        5089

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                                                          Rare Indian Coco-de-Mer Ewer

                                                          Northern India
                                                          Circa 17th century

                                                          height: 45cm, width: 25cm, thickness: 18cm, weight: 3,070g

                                                          Available - Click for more images and videos

                                                          Provenance

                                                          UK art market

                                                          4313

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                                                            Eshu Dance Wrist Pendant

                                                            Yoruba People, Southern Egbado, Nigeria
                                                            19th century

                                                            height: 10.2cm

                                                            Available - Click for more images and videos

                                                            Provenance

                                                            private collection, London.

                                                            4274

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                                                              Woman’s Iron Pubic Cover (Cache Sexe)

                                                              Kirdi and Matakam People, North Cameroon
                                                              19th-early 20th century

                                                              length: 37.5cm

                                                              Available - Click for more images and videos

                                                              Provenance

                                                              private collection, UK