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A deeply evocative, authentic, carved stone figure from the Himalayan borderlands, heavily leaning toward the early Tibetan Buddhist or the indigenous Bön folk tradition. This is an extremely unusual antique item with immense character, showing clear signs of extensive ritual use and honest handling.
The figure wears monastic robes with diagonal robe folds on the back and crossing the chest down to the lap. The hands rest over the knees/lap, where an original carved attribute has been beautifully smoothed away over generations of touch. Hand-carved from a dense, heavy regional hardstone, it feels substantial in the hand and features a surface coated in a traditional dark lacquer or resin glaze, blackened by time, incense smoke, and handling. The lacquer shell has naturally dried, cracked, and flaked away along the lower edges and knees, revealing the beautifully textured, earthy mineral matrix underneath. The eyes of the figure are inlaid with small, quartz crystals—a traditional shamanic practice meant to grant the deity active spiritual sight to ward off malevolent forces.The bottom of the figure features a raw, hand-bored indentation characteristic of consecrated Buddhist item.
- Item: Early Tibetan Buddhist Figure/Indigenous Bön Folk Art Tradition
- Material: Carved Hardstone/Mineral Composite
- Origin: Tibet/Himalayan Borderlands
- Age: Unknown
- Dimensions (approx.): 3.15 x 2 x 1.4 inches (8 x 5 x 3.5 cm)
- Weight: 3.8 ounces (109 grams)
Authentic antique condition with clear signs of extensive ritual use and honest handling. The facial details and lap attributes are almost complete smoothed down from generations of human contact. The paint/lacquer coating shows stable, authentic flaking as pictured. Please review all photos carefully to appreciate the true age and patina.
