Decorative Objects Home & Accessories

Brass, lacquer, rattan and a trumpet made from a conch shell. Decorative objects for shelves and tables here come from India, Nepal, China, Japan, Thailand, Africa and Europe: boxes, oil lamps, baskets, sculpture and curiosities. Brass oil lamps from Karnataka carry Lakshmi motifs, and Newari lamps from the Kathmandu Valley depict Ganesh. Maharashtra adds a carved tikka box and a stupa-form box on wheels, and Japan sends lacquered boxes and bamboo ikebana baskets.

African pieces include a Lega conch shell trumpet and an Mbuti molimo trumpet from Congo, a Mossi whistle, a tooled Tuareg leather box and a Gurage bread basket from Ethiopia. Thailand offers a carved deer and a temple bell, and Berlin an illuminated glass globe dated 1938. Group a few on a bookshelf with space around each, or let one hold a side table alone. Most were made to be useful, and are now useful mainly for being looked at.