Carved Objects

A carved Dan spoon nearly two feet long, made for feasts rather than soup. Carved objects and ritual implements here come from Africa, China, India, Nepal and Indonesia, worked in wood, stone, crystal, bronze and iron. Gurage headrests from Ethiopia, Bamenda bird-form pipes from Cameroon, a Baule royal fly whisk, an Ashanti spoon, an Ethiopian prayer staff and a Yoruba Orisha Oko staff represent Africa. Brass and bronze vajras from Nepal and China, a gilded bronze Jambhala and a Narmada River crystal lingam carry Buddhist and Hindu ritual.

Also here are a Javanese glass bead model of the 8th or 9th century, a Chinese fireworks launcher, bird-form jeweler’s torches from Karnataka, a Zulu food tray, crystal cicadas, agate geodes, a French tattooed hand mannequin and a Chinese picture stone. Fitted marble, sandalwood and mahogany lotus bases wait to lift small treasures. Arrange a few on a desk tray or a bookshelf with room around each. The kind of shelf that makes guests pick things up.