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19 juin 2013

Wovensouls online June 30 auction features private collection of rare antique Tibetan textiles & jewelry

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This fine Perak headdress from the Zanskaar valley has large old turquoise stones, lambskin ears, silver embellishments, lapis accents, a central ghau meant for the protection of the wearer and two side panels adorned with the most highly valued gem locally i.e. coral. Photo: Courtesy of Wovensouls.

SINGAPORE.- On June 30, Artfact.com will host the online-only auction of the private collection of Jaina Mishra an award-winning photographer, cultural writer and cultural speaker.

An MBA by training, Mishra has spent the past 10 years reverently experiencing what she describes as “vanishing cultures.” While immersing herself in the odyssey that took her to Tibet, remote parts of India, the Golden Triangle of S.E. Asia and Borneo, Mishra also collected traditional and cultural art pieces such as handmade weavings, ethnic jewelry and folk art pieces that were remarkable on account of their unique character or their age.

A part of her exceptional finds will be shared with the rest of the world in an online-only auction conducted through Artfact.com. on June 30, 2013 at 8 am Pacific Time / 4 pm GMT.

Among the most impressive items in the sale are the bejeweled headdresses that are now seen only in a few museums around the world. Lots 100, 113 and 115, the19th-century Tibetan noblewomen’s headdresses known as Pat’h that were used to support elaborate hairstyles are rare and exceptional. Also noteworthy are the 3 Himalayan Peraks laden with turquoise stones and embellished with coral, silver & lapis, also from the same region and century.

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Extremely rare Tibet noblewoman's headdress, late 19th century. Photo: Courtesy of Wovensouls.

Lot 100. Worn in the Xigatse region, this magnificent piece is an extremely rare find. The ornament was worn on the head as part of an ornate hairstyle. It is adorned with large pieces of aged coral and turquoise. The strings of pearls that hang in front have been restrung for strength and contain yellow pearls. The back is tied to the side ends to create a pyramid-like structure on top of the head.

LITERATURE REFERENCE : 'Tibetan Nomads' by Schuyler Jones. This book contains several photographs and explanatory notes on such headdresses.

MUSEUM PRESENCE : Photographs of Tibetan headdresses are available in the Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, UK

MEASUREMENT : Diameter on the longer side : 60 cm (Shorter dia = 27 cm)

CONDITION : Overall Good condition. A few pearls discolored. Estimated Price$8,000 - $15,000

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Extremely rare Tibet noblewoman's headdress, late 19th century. Photo: Courtesy of Wovensouls.

Lot 113. The Pat'h is an extremely rare find. The 'Y' shaped ornament was worn on the head to support an ornate hairstyle. Worn in Lhasa & the U-Tsang region. This Pat'h is adorned with large pieces of coral and turquoise. The main body contains larger pearls in the central rows and smaller pearls in the other rows. The Pat'h contains a supporting Y-shaped metal rib structure that is covered completely in cloth. High resolution images and detailed write-ups may be requested from Wovensouls if you wish to examine and evaluate the piece in greater detail.

LITERATURE REFERENCE : 'Tibetan Nomads' by Schuyler Jones. This book contains several photographs and explanatory notes on the Pat'h.

MUSEUM PRESENCE : Photographs of Tibetan Pat'h are available in the Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, UK.

MEASUREMENT : Length of each of the 2 shorter arms of the 'Y' is 20 cm, length of the longer arm stem of the 'Y' is 25 cm

CONDITION : Overall Good condition. Pearls discolored. Estimated Price$6,000 - $8,000

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Extremely rare Tibet noblewoman's headdress, late 19th century. Photo: Courtesy of Wovensouls.

Lot 115. The Pat'h is an extremely rare find. It was worn on the head to support an ornate hairstyle. This piece is adorned with pieces of coral and turquoise. The main body contains evenly sized pearls in neat rows. Worn in Lhasa & the U-Tsang region. High resolution images and detailed write-ups may be requested from the auctioneer if you wish to examine and evalutate the piece in greater detail.

LITERATURE REFERENCE : 'Tibetan Nomads' by Schuyler Jones. This book contains several photographs and explantory notes on the Pat'h.

MUSEUM PRESENCE : Photographs of Tibetan Pat'h are available in the Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, UK.

MEASUREMENT : Length of each of the 3 arms of the 'Y' is 20 cm.

CONDITION : Overall Good condition. Some pearls are discolored. Estimated Price$5,000 - $10,000

Textiles from other parts of the world are also on offer. Lot 131, a large painted textile called the Pabuji-ki-phad, is an antique example of a textile mural a folk artwork that is used as a backdrop while narrating legends. A similar example of the Phad is displayed at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.

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Painted 'Pabuji-ki-phad' mural textile. Photo: Courtesy of Wovensouls

Lot 131. This Pabuji-ki-Phad is a hand-drawn, hand-painted work of folk art from Bhilwara Rajasthan of unknown age. Used as a backdrop mural for devotional performances by 'Bhopas' who are invited to celebrations and festivals to narrate the story of the Lok Deva or folk gods. Phads are passed down from father to son in the Bhopa family and contain several scenes from the life of Pabuji and is used to illustrate the stories during the Bhopa's performance and each Phad is used over 3-4 generations. This Phad was acquired from one of the few surviving Phad artists who continue to practice their ancestral art. When Bhopas commission a new Phad the old ancestral Phad is usually consecrated and laid down in holy waters. In a few cases the Phad artist requests that the old Phad be retained for artisitic purposes. This is one such Phad. Colors used are all natural colors. The Canvas panels used are narrower as only narrow looms were available in the past.

LITERATURE REFERENCE : Pages 89-90 in the coffee table book 'Indian Textiles' by John Gillow & Nicholas Bernard show younger examples of the Phad.

REFERENCE EXAMPLES : 
1. Brooklyn Museum, New York 
2. Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam 
3. Asian Art Museum, San Francisco

MEASUREMENT : 15.3 feet x 5 feet

CONDITION : Not perfect. Estimated Price$5,000 - $8,000

The catalog includes several pieces of silver jewelry that are rare collectibles that are almost impossible to find now. Lot 195, a collection of 7 hookah pipes used by Nawabs, is a representative example of the rare pieces offered at this auction.

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Collection of 7 hookah pipes. Photo: Courtesy of Wovensouls

Lot 195. Exquisite Mughal Hookah Pipe ends, mid 19th century. Hookahs were a part of Mughal lifestyle, and were used to smoke tobacco by both men and women. The base unit containing the tobacco and the water filter was connected to the smoking end, with pipes. This is a set of ornate royal hookah ends,each in a unique interesting form: a woman's hand, a crocodile, an elephant, etc.

APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 235 grams. Estimated Price$2,000 - $3,000

BACKGROUND : Unique silver antique articles with age are difficult to find in India as silver is a very liquid asset and can be easily converted for cash should the need arise. 
In every single town in India, jewelers are almost as common as grocery stores and a significant part of their profit comes from buying back gold & silver pieces at a discount from needy individuals. The pieces are then melted for the pure content and then reworked into other modern articles.
The articles presented at the auction are rare - some because the traditions relating to themselves have died, others because old pieces of similar age either do not leave family heirlooms or if they do, they meet their end at the melting fires of the metalsmiths.

Most of the lots offered at the auction are excellent examples of their category and the auction catalog is definitely worth a leisurely look.

Wovensouls is based in Singapore and works with several reputed private clients including a prestigious museum and a prominent art institution.

Wovensouls’ online-only auction is open for bidding and will end at 8 am Pacific Time / 4 pm GMT on June 30.

For questions about any item in the sale, e-mail jaina@wovensouls.com.

Log on to www.wovensouls.com to view the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid on the June 30 auction.

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