120 Year Old Tibetan Snow Lion PendantsThe Snow Lion – or ‘Gangs Seng Ge’ in Tibetan, is a powerful celestial animal that resides in the eastern Himalayas. Protector of Buddha, it personifies fearlessness and a cheerful mind. For more than a century it has remained the national emblem of Tibet.The Snow Lion is a common theme in proverbs and folk songs dating back to the 3rd century AD. Monks as well as lay people perform Snow Lion dances, often at...

We have been collecting Antique Jizo Statues from the Edo Period of Japan for years. Their aesthetic beauty and symbolism is something we hold dear at David Alan. Along with these rare antique finds, we are happy to announce we have found contemporary Jizo Statues made from both wood and limestone. They are quite amazing!Jizō is a bodhisattva, who has postponed Nirvana until all can be saved. Jizō embodies supreme spiritual optimism, compassion, and universal salvation. He is the guardian...

Phurba – Three sided ritual dagger from Tibet – Old World AntiquesHistory: From Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and Indian Vedic traditionsStill used by Buddhists and Shamans in Tibet and the Himalayas, the use of these magical daggers dates back to at least the 7th or 8th century. The Phurba, or Kila in Sanskrit, is linked to a whole cycle of legends and tantric rituals which all focus on dispelling demons and evil forces. It is a spiritual weapon. It is not sharp...

Jizai Kaki (Hearth Hook) From the late 1800’sIn Japan, during the Edo (1603-1868) and Meiji periods (1868-1912), all traditional Japanese homes and shops featured a central area called the Irori, or, a sunken hearth. Here, charcoal would be continuously burned for cooking and warming the home. Suspended above the hearth was a Jizai, or self-adjuster, from which a large iron kettle would be hung. A Jizai Kagi, or a large wooden hook, was suspended from the ceiling or roof beams...

Singo Barong — The David Alan CollectionReogPonorongo Tiger Mask From West Java IndonesiaIndonesia is a fascinatingly diverse country, consisting ofover 18,000 islands, numerous official religions, and evenmore unofficial belief systems. Java, the most populatedisland on earth was once the home to a large Hindu empire,followed by centuries of Buddhism which built the largesthand carved stone Buddhist temple on earth. Java was furtherinfluenced by five centuries of Islamic Sultans and DutchColonial rulers. Throughout all these prolific Kingdoms,many Javanese retained their old...

Balinese wood carving, mid 1900’s. From the Hindu epic the Ramayana.This is the the courageous Hanuman, Lord Rama’s devout servant, one who finds contentment and cheer in all things.

17th-18th century wooden Keris hilt from Central Java, Indonesia.Late 19th century bone Keris hilt from Java, Indonesia.Defined by UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Education) as a “Masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity”. The kris or keris is a distinctive, asymmetrical dagger from Indonesia. Both a weapon and spiritual object, krises are often believed to possess magical powers. Considered as or even more unique than the knife blades, the handles or hilts are extremely rare and...

It is always a pleasure to see our pieces after they are finished and have found their new home.Here is a photo of a petrified dining table that we modified last year, transforming into this amazing desk.The desk is made from petrified wood tiles, and the base is a mirror polished stainless steel.

Thank you to everyone who helped in putting together our upcoming petrified wood advertisement!Making things look and feel simple is sometimes harder than it appears…Looking forward to seeing it in print.

Edo period Japanese wood block printWe are very excited to announce that our next exhibition will feature hundreds of original wood block prints from Japan, most dating to the Edo period. The opening night reception will be Thursday, November 13th. Save the date, and make sure to sign up in the contact section of the website, under newsletter, to receive the official invite along with additional information.