Western Siberian drum Khanty peoples, 19th century
The Khanty were one of the few indigenous minorities of Siberia to be granted an autonomy during the Soviet period. The establishment of autonomy has played a considerable role in consolidation of the ethnos (the Western Khants called their eastern neighbours Kantõk [the Other People]). However, in the 1930s concerted efforts were made by the Soviet state to collectivise them. The initial stages of this meant the execution of tribal chiefs, who were labelled kulaks, followed by the execution of shamans. The abduction by the state of the children who were sent to Russian-speaking boarding schools provoked a national revolt in 1933.
After the end of the Stalin period this process was relaxed and efforts were intensified in the 1980s and 1990s to protect their common territory from industrial expansion of various ministries and agencies. The autonomy has also played a major role in preserving the traditional culture and language
Exceptional view of the Moon from the Apollo 8 mission command module. Mare Crisium, the circular dark colored area near the center, is close to the eastern edge of the moon, as seen from Earth.
Mare Nectaris is the circular moor near the terminator. The large irregular mayors are Tranquillitatis and Fecunditatis. The terminator, on the left of the image, crosses the Mare Tranquillitatis and the highlands to the south. Features on the far side of the Moon take up most of the right half of the image.
These radiating craters were not visible in Lunar Orbiter photographs due to the low elevation of the sun at the time these photographs were taken.
December 1968.
Tessen, iron fighting fan Japan, 19th century
A Fighting fan, made of iron, paper with silver and gold leaf, black pigment, bamboo. Menhari-gata (opening fan), sensu-gata (enlongated shape), bearing a Tachiban type mon.
Customarily carried in the hands or tucked in the obi (belt), the folding fan played a significant role in Japanese etiquette, especially on formal occasions, and was rarely ever out of a samurais possession.
Perhaps because it was considered such an ordinary item, it was easily employed as a suitable side arm with only minor modifications. These weapons, called tessen, literally meaning "iron fan" were constructed of either an actual folding fan with metal ribs or a non-folding solid bar of either iron or wood and shaped like a folded fan. During the Edo Period, the tessen was often considered a common self-defense weapon for extraordinary situations. There were many situations in which a samurai would not have access to his sword.
Width: 55 cm when open
Gold leaf lacquer sample board Japan, 19th century
A Japanese lacquer worker gilder’s gold leaf sample board showing the various colors, patterns and variation of available gilt finishes.
The word lacquer, derived from the Sanskrit word laksha, refers to a durable varnish obtained from the sap of the Asian sumac tree. The tree grows in China and Japan, where objects made with lacquer can be traced back to 7000 BC.
By applying multiple coats of the toxic and slow-drying sap of this tree artisans create lustrous surfaces that are impervious to decay. The eternal quality of lacquer is paralleled by the alchemy of its materials and methods. The sap is called “urushi” in Japanese and is water-repellent, consisting of doubly bonded hydrogen and carbon atoms that make cured lacquer as strong as the toughest Japanplastics.is a country once so closely associated with lacquer that in the 18th and 19th centuries, Westerners referred to lacquering as “japanning” in much the same way that high fire in ceramics are still called “china”. Current objects are likely created in the first half of the 20th century in the lacquer-making town of Kitakata, in Fukushima Prefecture in Japan.
Reference: Layers of Brilliance, Mingei Museum of San Diego, United States, 2017 Height: 29 cm
An extremely rare game piece called ulumaika (ulu means breadfruit and maika refers to the discoid shape of the piece) in stone. Both sides have convex shapes and the ends are slightly rounded.
The ulumaika were among the very precious objects, and great attention was paid to them, in order to make them as perfect as possible, giving it essential qualities to roll and stay straight. They were often oiled and preserved in tapas. The pawn was used in a game of bowls played by the aristocracy and the population. It is launched on one playground called the tahua, surrounded by wooden stakes.
Reference: Hiroa Te Rangi (Peter H. Buck), Arts and Crafts of Hawaii, special publication n°45. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu 1964.
Diameter: 8 cm
Lute, Yueqin China, 19th century
A Yueqin, (yüeh-ch’in), is a Chinese lute, part of a family of flat, round-bodied lutes found in Central and East Asia.
It evolved from the Ryan, a much larger, longer-necked lute that appeared in the Qin (221- 206BCE) and subsequent Han (202 BCE - 220 CE) dynasties. It is commonly called a moon guitar because of the ressemblance of its round, usually light colored sound board to a full moon, yue in Chinese. It has two pairs of strings; traditionally silk: (currently the strings on this instrument are gut). The strings are plucked by either the fingers or a small plectrum. The instrument’s characteristic sound is produced when the metal plate that is suspended inside the body, (hidden from view), resonates against the soundboard during playing. The yueqin was developed, according to tradition, during the Jin Dynasty, between about AD 265 and 420. The instrument is often included in jingxi (folk opera) orchestras. It is also used as a solo instrument.
Japan, 19th century
A elegant Jingasa, guardian helmet of Japanese notables in lacquered wood, face presenting delicate work
Total eclipse Arthur Eddington & Edward Crommelin,
After the First World War, the British astronomer Arthur Eddington organized a joint expedition to the island of Principe, in the Gulf of Guinea, and to Sobral, in Brazil, to test the predictions of Einstein's theory of relativity.
On May 29, 1919, the particularly long total eclipse - 6 minutes - allowed for the first time to prove the curvature of light resulting from the distortion of Thespace-time.theory of relativity, and therefore its creator Albert Einstein, become world famous after the lecture by Eddington and Crommelin at the Royal Astronomical Society in London on November 15, 1919 during which they present their observations.
Further information: Vintage gelatin silver print. Pen annotations on the back.
Measurements: 15 x 19 cm, framed
Rare Japanese silvered bronze ball, tokin kenen kagami (鍍⾦軒轅鏡) literally “plated eave hanging mirror”.
Symbols of rank, these silvered balls where hung in the administrative complex of the imperial palace and the surrounding administrative grounds from the eaves outside of the offices of court officials and administrative nobility. The surrounding corridors, which wrap around the outside of the building, could be seen from the interior office in front of which the mirror ball was hung, warning the administrator of approach officials. The balls were also thought to be an evil dispelling mirror, haja no kagami (破邪の鏡), literally “break evil mirror”. The sphere with loss of some of its silvering and with a fish tail-shaped finial for suspension.
Diameter: 15 cm
Senufo dance paddle Ivory Coast, 19th century
This rare Senufo bronze dance paddle consists of a main disc below which appears a long tapered handle, decorated at its ends with a fine geometric Atdecoration.theend of the Poro initiation, the great initiates receive a comparable dance palette, a symbol of the initiatory path travelled. Wearing this badge of prestige, the men dance in front of the assembled community.
Tintin, Moon Series Belgium, 1985
Tintin,