Surprising Items!

Selected here are items from our stock with surprising stories. Indeed, the best way to summarise our business is that we sell stories – with an object attached. The objects chosen here are designed to pass the ‘dinner party test’ – bring the item out after dinner and people note it out of politeness but then tell them what it is or how it was used and watch as they become enthralled by the item and how it ignites discussion.

Click on each item and read its story – discover why we think it is interesting and worthy of note.

Each item is available for sale.

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5771

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    Pair of Mughal Double-Headed Steel Belt Hooks

    Northern India
    17th century

    heights (without stand): 9.8cm, heights with stands: 13.5cm & 15cm

    Provenance

    UK art market

    5004

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      Pair of Miniature Brass Paduka Sandals for a Deity

      Deccan, India
      18th-19th century

      length of each: 11.8cm, width: 7.3cm, height: 7cm, combined weights: 677g

      Sold

      Provenance

      Collection of (the late) Paul Walter; probably acquired in London.

      6228

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        Pair of Japanese Export Blue & White Wayang Dishes for the Javanese Market

        Japan made for the Javanese Market
        19th century

        diameters: 24.7cm, heights: 4cm

        Sold

        Provenance

        private collection, UK.

        5483

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          Malay Princely Quail Trap (Jebak Puyuh)

          Malay People, Malaysia, probably Terengganu
          early to mid-20th century

          length: 30.8cm, height: 31cm, depth: 26cm

          Sold

          Provenance

          UK art market

          5085

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            Chinese Long Tortoiseshell & Gilded Silver Fingernail Guard

            China
            19th century

            length: 10cm, weight: 7.3g

            Sold

            Provenance

            UK art market

            4752

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              Woman’s Mother-of-Pearl & Bone Inlaid Wooden Stilted Clogs (Qabqab)

              Ottoman Turkey
              19th century

              heights (without upper straps): 15.2cm, overall heights: 19.5cm, length: 23.2cm

              Provenance

              UK art market

              5992

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                Burmese Bronze Noodle Maker

                Burma
                19th century

                height: 16.6cm, width: 27cm, weight: 2,907g

                Provenance

                UK art market

                5724

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                  Zulu Wooden Ear Plugs with Bakelite Tile Decoration

                  Zulu People, South Africa
                  circa 1940

                  diameters: 5.5cm, thickness: 0.8cm

                  Provenance

                  private collection, UK

                  3914

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                    Ifugao Wood, Rattan & Pig Tusk Armband (Baningal or Abkil)

                    Bontoc or Ifugao People, Northern Luzon, Philippines
                    19th–early 20th century

                    height: 12cm, diameter: 10.5cm

                    Sold

                    Provenance

                    private European collection.

                    5192

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                      Indian Gold & Pearl Nose Ring (Nath)

                      India, probably Rajasthan
                      circa 1900

                      width: 3.3cm, weight: 5.05g

                      Sold

                      Provenance

                      private collection, UK.

                      3604

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                        Indian Stained Ivory Pehlwani Wrestlers

                        Northern India, probably Rajasthan
                        circa 1750

                        height: 8.8cm

                        Sold

                        Provenance

                        UK art market

                        2449

                        Enquiry about object: 2449

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                          Ifugao Carved Wooden Ladle or Dipper

                          Kalanguya People, Southern Ifugao, Philippines
                          early 20th century

                          length: 24.5cm

                          Provenance

                          Scottish art market

                          2185

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                            Sepik Crocodile Man Earthenware Roof Ridge Tile with Pigments

                            Chambri Lakes, Sepik River, Papua New Guinea
                            early 20th century

                            height: 42cm, width: 25.5cm

                            Provenance

                            Francis de Sales McHugh Collection, collected by de Sales McHugh in the early 20th century.

                            2586

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                              Philippines Lidded Limestone Burial Jar

                              South Cotabato, Mindanao, Philippines
                              8th-9th century

                              height: 69cm, width: 30cm

                              Provenance

                              UK art market; UK private collection; acquired from Patricia Withofs, 1984.

                              4408

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                                Ram Darbar Temple Token (Ramatanka)

                                India
                                circa 1900

                                diameter: 2.8cm, weight: 11.65g

                                Sold

                                Provenance

                                UK art market

                                1988

                                Enquiry about object: 1988

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                                  Ceremonial Fijian Wooden Four-Tined ‘Cannibal’ Fork

                                  Fiji
                                  early 19th century

                                  length: 24.6cm

                                  Sold

                                  Provenance

                                  private collection, Guernsey.

                                  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

                                    Provenance

                                    UK private collection

                                    3539

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                                      Yoruba Carved Wooden Figure of Queen Victoria

                                      Yoruba, Nigeria
                                      late 19th century

                                      height: 32.5cm

                                      Sold

                                      Provenance

                                      UK art market

                                      5840

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                                        Mongolian Polychrome Dancing Citipati Group

                                        Mongolia
                                        19th century

                                        height: 60cm, width: 53cm

                                        Provenance

                                        Private collection, England.

                                        5424

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                                          Nalanda Cast Bronze Buddha

                                          Nalanda, North-east India
                                          11th-12h century

                                          height: 10.6cm, width: 7.8cm

                                          Sold

                                          Provenance

                                          acquired by the previous owner in London in March 1991.

                                          4267

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                                            Woman’s Wooden Lip Plate

                                            Kichepo People, Sudan, & Surma People, Sudan/Ethiopia
                                            19th-early 20th century

                                            width: 13.3cm, length: 9.6cm, thickness: 1.6cm

                                            Sold

                                            Provenance

                                            private London collection.

                                            2993

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                                              Kerala Brass Ring Cast with Santa Claus’ Sleigh & Eight Reindeers

                                              Cochin (Kochi), Kerala, India
                                              20th century

                                              length: 6.5cm, height: 5.3cm, weight: 40g

                                              Sold

                                              Provenance

                                              UK private collection; acquired by the owner in Kerala.

                                              4366

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                                                Collection of Twenty Indian Hindu Temple Bronze Body Stamps (Chhapa)

                                                Orissa & Bengal, India
                                                18th & 19th centuries

                                                length of the longest: 11.2cm, diameter of largest: 8cm

                                                Sold

                                                Provenance

                                                UK art market

                                                4676

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                                                  Rare, Brass Toad-Shaped Flask

                                                  Tibet
                                                  18th century and perhaps earlier

                                                  height (with stopper): 37cm

                                                  Provenance

                                                  UK art market

                                                  3932

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                                                    Man’s Ear Ornament (Sabau) of Carved Hornbill Casque (Beak)

                                                    Kenyah/Kayan Dayak People, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
                                                    early 20th century

                                                    height: 4.6cm, length: 10.2cm, width: 4.1cm, weight: 51g

                                                    Sold

                                                    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.

                                                    3298

                                                    Enquiry about object: 3298

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                                                      Iron Trisula

                                                      Java, Indonesia
                                                      circa 18th century

                                                      length: 40cm

                                                      Sold

                                                      Provenance

                                                      UK art market

                                                      1595

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                                                        Rare Solomon Islands Christian Altar Cross Inlaid with Pearl Shell

                                                        Solomon Islands
                                                        circa 1900

                                                        height: 62cm, width: 33cm, depth: 19.5cm

                                                        Sold

                                                        Provenance

                                                        Adam Prout, London.