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by appointment: Finch and Co s rl Belgium : Rue Ernest Allard 32, 1000 Brussels Mobile : + 32 [0] 470 64 46 51 Email : galleria@ﬁnchandco.eu Website : www.ﬁnchandco.eu

A Fine South Netherlandish Carved Ivory Cruciﬁx Figure of Christ

A Fine Indian Writing Box with Silver Mounts

3 A Fine Example of a Dieppe Magnetic Azimuth or Blound-Type Pocket Sundial

4 An Unusual and Rare Pair of Chinese Carved Ivory Supports for a Hammock Decorated with Archaistic Scrolling Clouds

5 A Fine Carved Ivory Oval Portrait Medallion of the Young Queen Victoria (Reigned 1837–1901)

Japanese Ivory Netsuke of a Dutchman Wearing a Broad Rimmed Hat Holding a Gunbai War Fan

Japanese Carved Ivory Netsuke Depicting a Monk Dressed in his Flowing Robes his Hand Trapped in an Huge Clam

Japanese Ivory Netsuke of a Puppy Dog Scratching his Ear

7 A Fine English Oval SnuV Box with Cut and Gilded Horn Lid Decorated with a Trophy of Arms

A Very Fine Pair of Scholars Studio Water Pots

A Fine Scholars Oblong Brush Water Dish

9 A Vili Peoples Carved Figural Ivory Ritual Flywhisk Handle

Small Mogul Carved Ivory Casket with Gilt Metal Mounts

An Exceptionally Large and Very Rare Ivory Teetotum Gambling Ball with Engraved Crown and Numbers 1–32

Indo-Portuguese Goa Carved Ivory of the Cruciﬁed Christ

13 A Finely Carved Fan Commemorating Nelson’s Famous Victory of The Battle of the Nile also called The Battle of Aboukir (Abukir) Bay on the 1st August 1798

14 An Indian Ivory Rajasthan Chess Piece Pawn Depicting a Kneeling Woman

An Erotic Spiked Ladies Pleasuring Ball with Red Silk Hanging Cord

A Fine and Large Renaissance Turned Standing Cup and Cover on Knopped Foot

17a A Fine Scholars Scroll Weight

17b A Fine Scholars Weight

A Finely Carved Sword or Dagger Handle with a Female Head Two Grimacing Faces Flanked by Two Kneeling Naked Figures

19 A Rare Netherlandish Ivory Pax Carved with a Relief of the Cruciﬁxion the Virgin and Saint John

20b

A Japanese Netsuke of a Man Seated Wearing a Mon Decorated Kimono

20a

A Fine Japanese Ivory Netsuke of Sennin with an Octopus on his Shoulder

20c

A Japanese Netsuke of the Immortal Chokaro Sennin with his Magic Horse

20d

A Japanese Netsuke of a Seated Dog Wearing a Collar with a Suspended Bell

A Rare Mogul Powder Flask

A Fine and Large Portuguese Goa Devotional Cruciﬁx

23 A Rare Gothic Casket with Original Metal Straps and Lock Plate

24 A Rare Sri Lankan Carved Ivory Portrait of a Noble Member of the Royal Kandyan Court

25 A Collection of Eight Eastern Indian Carved Ivory Erotic Panels Depicting Hindu Sexo-Yogic Postures

A comprehensive and detailed description of each item in this catalogue is available on our website www.ﬁnchandco.eu Alternatively, you may scan the QR code located on the Wnal page of the catalogue.

A Fine South Netherlandish Carved Ivory Cruciﬁx Figure of Christ with a Silver Halo and Sacred Motto AYxed to a Rosewood Cross With gilt-wood embellishments on original Rosewood scallop shaped base an Ivory Skull and Crossbones symbolic of Golgotha beneath Christ’s feet His legs uncrossed His hands and Feet attached by Iron Nails Small chips to fabric of hanging Perizonium Old smooth creamy patina Circa 1690–1700 s i z e: Christ: 40 cm high, 24 cm wide 6 cm deep – 15¾ ins high, 9½ ins wide, 2¼ ins deep / Cross: 109 cm high, 41.5 cm wide, 22 cm deep – 43 ins high, 16¼ ins wide, 8¾ ins deep p rov e na nc e: Ex Finch and Co circa 2005 Ex English Private collection Ex Irish collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE00989/CE c f: A similar example in the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum inv. no. A.73-1920 In this image of the Passion, Christ is shown alive, his eyes open looking upwards to his right, his teeth visible with His mouth open in his call to God. Imagery based on the Passion of Christ

became increasingly popular from the 13th century. The mix of emotions which well up in the devout upon looking at such a human image, a blend of guilt and gratitude, sorrow and sympathy, is a very powerful combination. The Carthusian monk, Ludolph of Saxony (died 1378) expressed this attraction, without seeking to explain it, in his Life of Christ: I know not for sure…. how it is that you are sweeter in the heart of one who loves you in the form of ﬂesh than as the word…. It is sweeter to view you as dying before the Jews on the tree, than as holding sway over the angels in Heaven, to see you as a man bearing every aspect of human nature to the end, than as God manifesting divine nature, to see you as the dying Redeemer than as the invisible Creator.

A Fine Writing Box with Silver Mounts Silver, Ivory Superb colour and patina India Early 17th Century s i z e: 7 cm high, 26.5 cm wide, 9 cm deep – 2¾ ins high, 10½ ins wide, 3½ ins deep p rov e na nc e: Ex Private English collection Ex P. Martin Antiques, 2011 Ex Private collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01013/CE

3 A Fine Example of a Dieppe Magnetic Azimuth or Blound-Type Pocket Sundial Ivory, brass, silver, paper, glass France 17th Century Circa 1660

s i z e: 2 cm high, 7 cm long, 6.5 cm wide – ¾ ins high, 2¾ ins long, 2½ ins wide / 8 cm high – 3¼ ins high (when open) p rov e na nc e: Ex Private North Country collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE00995/CE The dial appears in the form of a diptych, commonly made of ivory, resembling the earlier Nuremberg diptych dials. Directional place names on our example include: Paris, Rouen, Rheims, Rochell, Rome, Milan, Londres, Bruxel.

4 An Unusual and Rare Pair of Chinese Carved Ivory Supports for a Hammock Decorated with Archaistic Scrolling Clouds Ming Dynasty 1580–1644 s i z e: 78 cm wide – 30¾ ins wide (each) p rov e na nc e: Ex Private English collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE00988/CE Traditional hammocks originated in Central South America with the word coming from a Taino peoples word Arwahan meaning ﬁsh net. In the medieval English Luttrel Psalter of circa 1330 A.D, an illumination shows the hammock as a hanging bed. Hammocks were not originally designed for leisure, but for protection from animals, reptiles, insects and damp. During the Tang period in China wooden platforms known as Ji were sat on by kneeling, these were altered with rope and called rope chuang or hammock. In his book Borders of Chinese Civilisation by Douglas

Howland he states that to sit down was regarded as an unusual custom viewed with shock. The Hou Jing biography records ascending the hall to occupy an outlandish seat with feet dangling. It was also reported by Cheng Dacheng, and quoted by Howland, that all the Ming court oYcials in the Purple Imperial Hall, (the Imperial Palace in the Forbidden City), were on great hammocks.

5 A Fine Carved Ivory Oval Portrait Medallion of the Young Queen Victoria (Reigned 1837–1901) Signed N Schrödl.f A Label to the Reverse Inscribed in Ink Reading: Victoria de Kent. Reine D’Angleterre 1819–1901 Couronneé en 1837 í Westminster Impératrice des Indes en 1876 *· Portrait í 25 ans par NorbertMichaël Schrodl né en 1816 et Mort en 1890 à Dresde The ivory plaque bound in a brass frame Circa 1841 s i z e: 14.5 cm high, 10 cm wide, 2.5 cm deep – 5¾ ins high, 4 ins wide, 1 ins deep p rov e na nc e: Ex Belgian Private collection Ex Finch and Co catalogue number 26, item number 81, Summer 2016 Ex Private collection s e e: Finch & Co catalogue no. 16, item no. 40 for a pair of large ivory portrait medallions of the 11th Duke of Hamilton and his wife, Marie Amelie Elizabeth Caroline of Baden, attributed to Norbert Schrödl c f: An ivory portrait medallion of a Lady signed by Norbert Schrödl in the New York Metropolitan Museum Acc.No.1976.422.6 BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01022/CE The Austrian ivory carver and

sculptor Norbert-Michael Schrödl was born at Schwechat near Vienna in April 1816 and died in Dresden on 1st December 1890. His two sons, Norbert and Leopold, were also artists and the family travelled through Europe from court to court to gain commissions. The ivories turned and carved in Austria and Germany from the 16th to the 18th centuries are amongst the ﬁnest ever made and it is from this tradition that Norbert Schrodl came. His work naturally follows on from the portrait medallions of the 18th century created by Carl August Lücke the Elder, and his son or nephew, the Younger.

6a.

A Japanese Ivory Netsuke of a Dutchman Wearing a Broad Rimmed Hat Holding a Gunbai War Fan his Coat Worn Over Baggy Trousers his Long Hair Curling at his Neck Smooth silky creamy patina Unsigned 18th Century s i z e: 4 cm high – 1½ ins high p rov e na nc e: Ex Private European collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01023/CE

6b.

Japanese Carved Ivory Netsuke Depicting a Monk Dressed in his Flowing Robes his Hand Trapped in an Huge Clam As these molluscs are a salacious symbol the Monk is crying a warning to others Ivory Smooth silky creamy patina

Unsigned Edo Period Early 19th Century s i z e: 2 cm high, 3 cm dia. – ¾ ins high, 1¼ ins dia. p rov e na nc e: Ex Private Irish collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01030/CE

6c.

A Fine Japanese Ivory Netsuke of a Puppy Dog Scratching his Ear the Eyes Inlaid with Horn Unsigned Late 18th Century – Early 19th Century s i z e: 2 cm high, 3 cm dia. – ¾ ins high, 1¼ ins dia. p rov e na nc e: Ex Private London collection acquired Marchant Feb 1969 Ex Private Irish collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01020/CE

7 A Fine English Oval SnuV Box with Cut and Gilded Horn Lid Decorated with a Trophy of Arms Fine Condition 17th Century s i z e: 2 cm high, 10.5 cm wide, 8.5 cm deep – ¾ ins high, 4 ins wide, 3¼ ins deep p rov e na nc e: Ex Private collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01054/CE SnuV taking as a habit among all classes in Britain and not just as a fashionable addiction of London society dates from the introduction of ready ground snuV in 1702. Under the command of Sir George Rooke the British ﬂeet in 1702, some way oV Cadiz, captured

from the Spanish several thousand barrels of choice Spanish snuV and near Vigoa another cargo of Havana snuV intended for their home market. All of this vast quantity of sneezing powder was sold at the English seaports at very low prices, as the proceeds were to be prize money for the beneﬁt of the sailors and naval oYcers. Thus was the general habit of snuV taking born in Britain.

8a.

A Very Fine Pair of Scholars Studio Water Pots Extremely ﬁnely carved thin walled vessels, with excellent colour and patina Ivory China 17th Century / circa 1650 s i z e: 3.5 cm high, 6 cm dia. p rov e na nc e: Ex Private collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01123/CE

8b.

A Fine Scholars Oblong Brush Water Dish Of oblong, lobed form delicately carved with an integral foot Ivory Superb colour and patina China 17th Century / circa 1690 s i z e: 15 cm long, 4.5 cm deep, 1.5 cm high – 6 ins long, 1¾ ins deep, ½ ins high p rov e na nc e: Ex Private collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01125/CE

Ivory is a precious Buddhist symbol representing sacredness, compassion and completeness and its contemplation oVers the scholar poetic inspiration.

9 A Vili Peoples Carved Figural Ivory Ritual Fly-whisk Handle The eyes inlaid with shell, the interior hollow Lower Congo 19th Century s i z e: 10 cm high – 4 ins high p rov e na nc e: Ex Finch and Co catalogue number 6, 2005, item number 100 Ex Private European collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01010/CE When the Portuguese explorers dropped anchor in the estuary of the Congo River in 1482 the Kingdom of the Kongo had already become the largest state in central Africa; a centrally organised nation with governor’s ruling over provinces on behalf of a King. During the 16th and 17th centuries it was known as a powerful and prestigious African Kingdom and sent diplomats to Europe and Brazil. Art proclaimed the authority of the Kongo King’s who were sacred. Figures, stools, staVs of oYce, ivory handles and sceptres, and textiles set the King and his Chiefs apart from commoner’s and established their right to rule. The ritual ﬂy whisk was an attribute of a Chief and was used as a symbol of authority. The smooth creamy patina suggests that this ﬁnial was grasped in the hand over a long period of time.

A Northern India Mogul Small Carved Ivory Casket with Gilt Metal Mounts The interior divided into six sections for spices or medicinal substances Late 17th Century s i z e: 4.5 cm high, 10.5 cm wide, 5.5 cm deep – 1¾ ins high, 4¼ ins wide, 2¼ ins deep p rov e na nc e: Ex Cserno collection Netherlands BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01027/CE In the late 17th century the craftsmen began to reconcile the long standing decorative Mogul motifs with those of newly introduced ﬂowering plants and created more naturalistic, formal ﬂoral compositions as carved on this box. Boxes and caskets were made for both domestic and foreign markets, some completely of ivory, others set with ivory plaques or profusely inlaid, with those destined for European export often the most ornately decorated.

An Exceptionally Large and Very Rare Ivory Teetotum Gambling Ball with Engraved Crown and Numbers 1–32 on the Faceted Sides Superb mellow colour and golden patina Early 18th Century / Circa 1710–20 s i z e: 7 cm dia. – 2¾ ins dia. BE c i t e s: 2025/BE00991/CE c f: for other much smaller examples see Finch and Co catalogue no. 3, item no. 61, catalogue 20, item number 42,

catalogue number 21, item no. 35, catalogue number 26, item number 66, catalogue 28, item number 48, catalogue 29, item number 42 a–b, and catalogue number 33, item number 47 for an example dated 1708 The Latin word Totum means the whole; the whole stake. A teetotum ball acts somewhat like a spinning dice, but is a many faceted spinning top that has each side numbered and so, unlike a dice, when thrown there is an equal chance of any number turning up. Most teetotum balls are incised with the numbers 1–32, having 32 equally faceted sides. The English philosopher John Locke (1632–1704) mentions a 32 sided ivory ball in Some Thoughts Concerning Education (1693) in Section 150 he writes concerning teaching children to read… what if an ivory ball were made like that of the royal oak lottery, with 32 sides… The Royal Oak lottery was introduced in 1630 by Charles I to defray the expense of carrying water to London and was very popular. Lotteries ﬁrst began to become an acceptable form of raising money for government funds under Queen Elizabeth I in 1568–69. The lottery was started in order to fund urgent repairs to the harbours and fortiﬁcations of England then under the threat of invasion from the Spanish. Great pains were taken to provoke the people to part with their money and even fortune tellers were consulted about lucky numbers. Lotteries later became established by successive Acts of Parliament, even during the time of the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell. They became a popular and lucrative means of increasing government revenue and were regularly conducted, both in London and the country,

by appointed contractors. Lotteries were not then conﬁned to monetary prizes, but embraced silver, jewellery, books, paintings, tapestries and even live deer in Syon Park.

An Indo-Portuguese Goa Finely Carved Ivory of the Cruciﬁed Christ His eyes closed Head resting on his Chest Hair falling to one side His Mouth shown Open in his call to God Smooth silky creamy white patina with age cracks Late 17th Century s i z e: 32 cm high, 21 cm wide – 12½ ins high, 8¼ ins wide p rov e na nc e: Ex Private Belgian collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01026/CE After the fall of Sri Lanka to the British in 1657 the Portuguese departed and established a larger trading presence in Goa. The town had always been a magnet for craftsmen from all over India even before the Sinhalese came to continue in the service of the Portuguese. The production of Christian ivories continued as it had done before in Sri Lanka, but now Goa became a major producer of luxury goods and a commercial centre. With the evolution of sea routes it developed into a worldwide trading hub with large numbers of European merchants Spanish, French, German and Flemish, beside the Portuguese settling there. The presence of the body of Saint Frances Xavier in Goa since 1554 and the cult developed by the Jesuits surrounding it, established an important market for the Catholic Missions in

religious imagery. Devotional cruciﬁx were apparently diYcult for the local Indian artists as they were unaccustomed to such a realistic representation of death given their belief in its transitory nature. Christian ivories went on to be produced in the Portuguese directed workshops of Goa for over 250 years supplying the diverse churches of the Portuguese Empire.

13 A Finely Carved Fan Commemorating Nelson’s Famous Victory of The Battle of the Nile also called The Battle of Aboukir (Abukir) Bay on the 1st August 1798 Ivory, marcasite, silk, polychrome France Circa 1800 s i z e: closed: 25 cm long – 9⁷⁄₈ ins long BE c i t e s: 2025/BE00996/CE The extremely ﬁne pierced ivory brisé fan displaying a central cartouche depicting a scene recording the famous battle, with the pyramids shown on the banks of the river. Two sphinx painted within the border. The guard decorated with minute marcasite faceted beads. The Battle of the Nile was a major naval battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the Navy of the French Republic at Aboukir Bay on the Mediterranean coast oV the Nile Delta, Egypt from the 1st to the 3rd of August 1798.

14 A Rare Carved Ivory Indian Rajasthan Chess Piece a Pawn Depicting a Kneeling Woman Dressed in a Full Skirt and Bodice Her Long Hair Tucked Behind Her Ears Old green staining visible to the base the ivory now dark with age Fine smooth silky patina The hands missing the breaks rubbed smooth Mid 17th Century s i z e: 5.2 cm high, 3 cm dia. – 2 ins high, 1¼ ins dia. BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01017/CE The elements of early chess were shaped in imitation of warfare and in particular of Indian warfare, but it was primarily a game albeit one with symbolic overtones, which helped to imbue it with status and prestige. The game was modelled on a traditional historical image of war, one in which the elephant corps remained important, and not on a close observation of contemporary military reality. As a complex game chess has proved to be extraordinarily stable. Hundreds of years have passed bringing new patterns of thought and leisure, as well as computer programs, and yet the rules of chess have altered hardly at all.

15 An Erotic Spiked Ladies Pleasuring Ball with Red Silk Hanging Cord Ivory China Canton 19th Century s i z e: 5.5 cm high, 3.5 cm dia. –

2¹⁄₈ ins high, 1³⁄₈ ins dia. / 30 cm long – 11⁷⁄₈ ins long (with silk cord) s e e: Finch & Co catalogue no. 4, 2004 item no. 12, for a collection of eight and catalogue no. 19, item, no. 37 BE c i t e s: 2025/BE00994/CE

inscription The Exalted Roman Emperor Rudolf II’s Goblet Which Protects Against Poison – The Unconquerable Emperor’s Hand Shaped This Ingenious Goblet D 406.766 / 339 Royal Danish Kunstkammer, Copenhagen, National Museum

Known in China as ladies pleasuring balls these intricately carved ivory balls have articulated spikes that rotate within each sphere. Exported from the Cantonese ivory workshops in the 19th century they continue to fascinate the European collector with a taste for the exotic.

The Milanese master instructor of turning Giovanni Ambrogio Maggiore visited Bavaria on various occasions between 1574 and 1593 to teach the Duke Wilhelm this newly invented form of art, creating marvellous objects from natural substances. Maggiore also trained the artist Georg Wecker who went on to become in 1578 Dresden’s court turner for life to the Elector Augustus of Saxony. Regarded at the time as a form of advanced mechanical technology, the art of virtuosity turning in ivory, ebony and rhinoceros horn became a princely pastime for Drechselnder souverän. Rhinoceros horn objects were regarded as items of great rarity and prestige in Renaissance Europe, but they had been regarded as objects of great value with inherent magical properties for well over one thousand years before this time in China, and by the early 17th century Chinese cups and vessels of carved rhino horn were being exported to Europe to meet the demand for exotic curiosities for the cabinets of wealthy collectors.

A Fine and Large Late Renaissance Turned Standing Cup and Cover on Knopped Foot of Impressive Size Old smooth patina, age cracks to foot Rhinoceros Horn and Ivory German First Half 17th Century s i z e: 33 cm high, 11 cm dia (max) – 13 ins high, 4¼ ins dia. (max) p rov e na nc e: Ex Private collection Ex Tennant’s Auction Rooms, Yorkshire, March 2012 Ex Finch and Co, item number 77, catalogue number 20, Summer 2013 Ex Private collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01678/CE s e e: Finch and Co item no. 16, catalogue number 34, Summer 2020, for another example, and item no. 57, catalogue number 12, for a turned rhinoceros horn vessel and item no. 12, catalogue number 9, for three 18th century turned rhinoceros horn vessels c f: A cup and cover of similar shape engraved with the

17a. A Fine Scholars Scroll Weight Carved landscape with ﬁgures to one side and calligraphy Superb colour and patina China 17th Century – Ming Dynasty s i z e: 18 cm long – 7 ins long p rov e na nc e: Ex Private collection

Ex Irish collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01682/CE

17b. A Fine Scholars Weight With carved (etched) landscapes and ﬁgures to both sides Ivory Superb colour and patina China 17th Century – Ming Dynasty s i z e: 18.5 cm long – 7⅓ ins long p rov e na nc e: Ex Private collection Ex Irish collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01122/CE Perhaps the simplest of objects in the Chinese scholars studio is the scroll or paperweight. Its function was to keep the paper from curling up or moving whilst the calligrapher or artist was working. A scroll opened for viewing also had a tendency to close up again if the ends were not held in place with a weight. Paper was invented in China around the 1st century ad allegedly by General Cai Lun who served Emperor He Di (89–106 a d). It was made from various materials such as the bark of mulberry trees, cotton, silk, bamboo, wood pulp and rice straw. The ﬁnished product would be sized with Alum to protect it from insects as well as to prepare the surface for receiving ink.

A Finely Carved Sword or Dagger Handle with a Female Head Two Grimacing Faces Flanked by Two Kneeling Naked Figures A cartouche or shield with cross hatched design with a military trophy; swords, ﬂags and spears behind Ivory, old metal repair, ﬁne colour

and patina from use France or Italy Late 17th / Early 18th Century s i z e: 13.5 cm long, 3.5 cm wide, 3 cm deep – 5³⁄₈ ins long, 1³⁄₈ ins wide, 1¼ ins deep BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01029/CE A cutler was essentially a maker or seller of any artefact having a cutting edge. They purchased blades and employed a grinder to sharpen them and a furbisher to ﬁnish them, the hafts and handles and sheaths were bought in and the parts assembled and the ﬁnished product marketed by the cutler. Their wealth primarily derived from the bulk sales of swords, daggers and other small arms to Governments or Monarchs, and during the 15th and 16th centuries the demands of continual warfare yielded them a rich living.

19 A Rare Netherlandish Ivory Pax Carved with a Relief of the Cruciﬁxion the Virgin and Saint John the Evangelist Lamenting Christ on the Cross Set between Two Roman Columns the Skull of Golgotha below The reverse with a slot for a handle (now missing) The arched top with old worn damage Old smooth silky creamy patina Late 16th Century s i z e: 11 cm high, 8 cm wide, 2 cm deep – 4¼ ins high, 3 ins wide, ¾ ins deep p rov e na nc e: Ex Private Netherlands collection Ex Irish collection

BE c i t e s: 2025/BE00987/CE Pax were used to receive the kiss of peace by the celebrant of the Mass which was then transmitted to the other priests and then to the laity. In the 13th century, direct kissing among the congregation was replaced by each in turn kissing the pax which was carried around to those present in the church. The pax was held out on its handle and was wiped with a cloth between each person. The range of medical and social conditions, especially plague, made the practice of direct kissing undesirable. Believed to have been instituted by the Franciscans the ritual response by the person holding the pax was to say Paxtecum who then received the reply Et cum spirtutuo.

20a.

A Fine Japanese Ivory Netsuke of Sennin with an Octopus on his Shoulder Kyoto School Circa 1750 s i z e: 10 cm high – 4 ins high p rov e na nc e: Ex Private collection formed over 40 years Ex Max Rutherston Limited, London Ex Private collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE00993/CE

20b.

A Japanese Ivory Netsuke of a Man Seated Wearing a Mon Decorated Kimono Clasping with Both Hands his Treasured Saké Gourd Unsigned Old worn smooth patina Early 18th Century s i z e: 4 cm high – 1½ ins high p rov e na nc e: Ex European Collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01011/CE

p rov e na nc e: Ex Private collection Ex Private Irish collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01114/CE

20c.

A Japanese Ivory Netsuke of the Immortal Chokaro Sennin with his Magic Horse Unsigned Old worn smooth patina age cracks to reverse 18th Century s i z e: 4 cm high – 1½ ins high p rov e na nc e: Ex European Collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01025/CE

The Indian aristocracy frequently indulged in the pleasures of hunting and so numerous powder ﬂasks were made in diVerent materials: metal, ivory, and mother of pearl and a range of animal horns. Considered as prestigious accessories they were often worn more for display than for use.

20d.

A Japanese Carved Ivory Netsuke of a Seated Dog Wearing a Collar with a Suspended Bell Unsigned Old worn smooth silky patina one ear almost worn away from use 18th Century s i z e: 4 cm high – 1½ ins high p rov e na nc e: Ex European Collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01014/CE

22 21

A Rare Mogul Powder Flask Carved with a depiction of Gazelle’s Heads Aged patina India 17th Century s i z e: 10 cm long, 4 cm wide, 3 cm deep – 4 ins long, 2 ins wide, 1¼ ins deep

A Fine and Large Portuguese Goa Devotional Crucifix the Polychromed and Gilded Ivory of Christ Crucified on a Coromandel Wood Cross Ornately Embellished with Baroque Silver Mounts standing on an integral Coromandel plinth The agonising Christ on the cross his head falling to his right with closed eyes mouth open in his call to God long hair carved in undulating locks to his shoulders the well defined torso

with flexed muscles and rib cage the arms with veins threaded along their length his hands and feet pierced by silver nails his wounds polychromed red the edges of the perizonum gilded Fine condition 17th Century s i z e: 32 cm high, 26 cm wide – 12½ ins high, 10¼ wide / 107 cm high – 42 ins high (cross and base) p rov e na nc e: Ex Irish Private collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01024/CE On the 20th August 1595 Father Jerome Xavier of the Jesuit mission wrote to the General of the Society reporting on his meeting with the Prince Regent Salim of the Mughal court: I say the same with respect to the Prince for he was seriously angry with the Mohammedan guide for bringing with him no image of the Mother of God, and when bidding another to make extensive purchases, he particularly ordered him not to fail to bring with him a fine picture of our Lord, and as a Portuguese painter had come with us, he at once desired a copy to be painted of a picture of the Blessed Virgin which we had with us. So also when he came with his Royal Father to our chapel and saw there the child Jesus and a crucifix, he immediately wished to have similar images made of ivory by his own workmen ( Jesuit Missions to the Emperor Akbar. E.D. Maclagan. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 1896. pg. 66–67)

23 A Rare Gothic Casket with Metal Straps and Original Lock Plate

Ivory, bronze France 15th Century / circa 1450 s i z e: 3.5 cm high, 10 cm wide, 6.5 cm deep – 1⅓ ins high, 4 ins wide, 2½ ins deep p rov e na nc e: Purchased London 1960’s Ex Private English collection until early 2000’s Ex Private European collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE01021/CE

24 A Rare Sri Lankan Carved Ivory Portrait of a Noble Member of the Royal Kandyan Court Standing rigidly with his hands clasped to his side wearing a ceremonial sword in a sash a comb in his hair and long baggy trousers The eyes and sash inlaid with horn An old indistinct ink inscription to the reverse Kandy period Late 18th Century s i z e: 18.5 cm high – 7¼ ins high s e e: Finch & Co catalogue no. 15, item no. 30, for a Sri Lankan Bronze Buddha of the Kandy Period, and catalogue no. 18, item no. 5, and catalogue no. 20, item

no. 28, for two Kandyan period ivory ﬁgures p rov e na nc e: Ex Finch and Co catalogue number 22, item number 45, Spring 2014 Ex Private collection of a Titled Gentleman Ex Irish collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE00990/CE The active Sinhalese arts and crafts in the last independent mountain kingdom of Kandy included the wide use of ivory, which was a favourite medium for sculptures. The royal palace was a centre that attracted the most skilled craftsmen, an artistic elite, who formed a guild called Pattal Hatara. Members included painters, jewellers, gold and silversmiths and ivory workers. These same skilled workers were also involved in building and decorating the temples found throughout Kandy. They enjoyed the King’s protection and received royal donations. Their presence attracted other artists such as dancers and musicians to the court and the Kings of Kandy became famed for their patronage of the arts. The Island of Sri Lanka and its surrounding sea were a treasure trove of resources for the Portuguese and all the other foreigners who came and aimed to dominate the island after them. Precious stones, rock crystal, ivory and ambergris; all the raw materials that formed the basis for some of the most outstanding precious objects known in the West, were to be found. Works of art transformed from natural pearls from the Gulf of Mannar and from exotic Maldivian coconuts were to become some of the ﬁrst examples of cross-cultural trade. Ceylon was a gift from a divine hand as Jorge Pinto de Azevedo told his King Joăo IV in 1646.

An Unusual Collection of Eight Eastern Indian Carved Ivory Erotic Panels Depicting Hindu SexoYogic Postures Two showing Portuguese Merchants All with ﬁnely detailed interiors one containing a European Style Armchair Probably from Orissa The panels perhaps from a Box or Cabinet Late 18th – Early 19th Century s i z e: 10 cm high, 7.5 cm wide (max) – 4 ins high, 3 ins wide (max) and 7.5 cm high, 10.5 cm wide (max) – 3 ins high, 4¼ ins wide (max) p rov e na nc e: Ex English Private collection BE c i t e s: 2025/BE00992/CE c f: The 13th century Hindu Temple of Konarak in Orissa has sculptures representing YoniÁsana A 19th century Orissa manuscript in ink on paper illustrates a series of postures to enhance the act of love. The Oriental Institute Baroda In Hinduism sex is almost sacramental, essential to life and therefore worthy of serious study. There is a total absence of any sense of sexual guilt or sin, and sexual excitement is held to be evidence of the divine energy in man. Hindu tantra uses the imagery of pleasure as a mechanism for enhancing enjoyment in the direction of ecstasy. Sex to evoke great delight needs to be skilfully performed and many illustrated handbooks of posture and technique have been produced in India. These ivory plaques are most probably inspired by such a book or illustrated manuscript.

Design by Prof. Phil Cleaver & Yejin Jang (장예진) of etal-design, etal@etal-design.com Photography by Phil Connor, phillip_connor@icloud.com Endpapers © Marta Gussetti, galleria@ﬁnchandco.eu Printed and bound in Great Britain by Dave Davies of dlm creative © 2026 Finch Co i s b n 978-1-912930-55-5 No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the permission in writing of the publisher.