Explore ceremonial objects and items relating to medical treatment and self-care from China, India, Tibet, Japan and other countries in the Middle East and Asia.
Asian Medicine
1700-1850
Tinder pistol in egg-shaped, fenestrated, pierced metal case, twin arms, twin steel worn as netsuke, Japanese, 1700-1850
1701-1900
Earthenware tea pot, Japanese, 18th or 19th century
2005
Copper bowl, Dhara Chatti, with string loop for suspension, used in Ayurvedic Shirodhara therapy, manufactured by The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy Ltd, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, c2005.
1801-1900
Ivory diagnostic figure, reclining on main part of upholstered wooden couch, Chinese
1771-1800
Wooden netsuke, depicting a man with a moxa on his leg, from the Nagoya school, signed Tametaka, Japanese, 1771-1800
before 1986
Tibetan Shaman's costume, consisting of coat, hat, scarf, belt, parchment crown, hand bell, ceremonial thunderbolt, rhino horn container, thigh bone trumpet, two bone necklaces, two seed and nut necklaces, two bell necklaces, collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, 1986
1880-1925
Kareau figure of carved and painted wood, anthropomorphic, representing standing male with wings and top hat, from Nicobar Islands, Bay of Bengal, 1880-1925
Ivory buddhist horoscope, Tibetan, 18th or 19th century
1750-1800
Wooden figure showing moxibustion, signed Miwa with Kakihan, Japan, late 1700s
2004-2005
Two acupuncture needles in sterile packaging, manufactured by Seirin, Japan, 2004-2005
1980-1985
Presentation case containing reproductions of the tools used in the acupuncture method of insertion known as Hammer Needling, or Dashino, developed by Isai Mizono, consisting of a small wooden hammer and a 22ct gold 'Dream Splitting' needle, from the surgery of a British practitioner c.1996. handmade by Kanbe Genzo, Japanese, 1980-1985.
1980-1990
Box of non-scarring 'Ohmi' moxa tubes, marketted especially at young people, from the surgery of a British practitioner c.1996, made by Sennendo Inc, Japanese, 1980-1990.
1970-1985
Model ear showing acupuncture points and stand, probably from China or Japan, c.1970-1985
Leaflet giving general information about the Khunde Hospital, Nepal, c.2005.
Square wooden shrine with hinged doors, open to reveal serene Buddha-like figure holding small flask to contain medicines, called Yakushi Nyorai, Japanese, 1801-1900
Nine paper bags containing different grades of raw moxa, form coarse to fine, from the surgery of a British practitioner c.1996, unsigned, Japanese, 1980-1995.
1850-1920
Wooden mask, carved and painted skull, Bhutan, 1850-1920
'Roller' needle, marked with the word "gentle", used in Shonoshin therapy, a non-invasive form of acupuncture developed for young children, from the surgery of a British practitioner c.1996, unsigned, Japanese, 1980-1990.
Large wooden sign, painted with a demons face, with raffia hanging loop, hung outside house to keep away evil spirits, China, 1801-1900
Statue of Siva as half man, half woman, bronze, Indian, 1801-1900
1981
Box of Suvarna Vasant Malini, an Ayurvedic medicine, bought in Jaipur, 1981, with paper prescription invoice
1601-1900
Buddhist prayer wheel of silver and ivory, containing thousands of prayers, Tibetan, 1601-1900
Kareau figure of carved and painted wood, anthropomorphic, representing standing male with wings and European clothes, from Nicobar Islands, Bay of Bengal, 1880-1925
Acupuncture needle, steel
Ivory netsuke, in the form of a skeleton, perhaps representing death, strangling a man, Japanese, 1701-1900
Brass statue of Brahma, mounted on a swan, Indian
Adjustable leather cap, used during Ayurvedic Shirovasthi therapy, manufactured by The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy Ltd, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, c2005.
Needles for the Insertion Tube method of acupuncture, also known as Kanshino, consisting of a packet of nine fine-graded ion needles, with silver heads and gold shafts and a packet of seven all silver needles, from the surgery of a British practitioner c.1996, handmade by Kinichi Aoki, Tokyo, Japanese, 1980-1990.
Metal Seiju-Ito thermie warmer, in box with moxa thermie sticks and instructions, for self-administration of moxa in a variety of methods, from the surgery of a British practitioner c.1996, developed by Dr K. Ito and manufactured by Seiju 7 Co., Tokyo, Japan, 1980-1985.
1970-1980
Three large acupuncture needles, China 1970-1980.
Two needle sets, each containing three sizes of 'Broom Needle', as used in Shonoshin therapy, a non-invasive form of acupuncture developed for young children, from the surgery of a British practitioner c.1996, manufactured in Japan, 1980-1985.
Box of skewered paper-wrapped moxa plugs, for attaching to needle heads and burning during Moxa Head Needling therapy, from the surgery of a British practitioner c.1996, manufactured by Sennendo Inc, Japanese, 1980-1990.
1987
Box containing one clay device and one clay-soaked cardboard device for moxibustion, for use by blind practitioners in Japan, from the surgery of a British practitioner c.1996, made by Dr Obika Reiko at the National Rehabilitation Centre, Tokorozawa City, Japanese, 1980-1985.
Large 'Roller' needle, known as Gyokusho, in box, used in Shonoshin therapy, a non-invasive form of acupuncture developed for young children, from the surgery of a British practitioner c.1996, manufactured by Kanaken Medical Instruments Inc, Japanese, 1980-1990.
1850-1918
Bronze inro, elaborately decorated with scenes in inlaid gold and silver, with square netsuke, signed by a maker, Japanese, before 1919
Two 'Drop' needles, used in Shonoshin therapy, a non-invasive form of acupuncture developed for young children, from the surgery of a British practitioner c.1996, unsigned, manufactured in Japan, 1980-1985.
before 1936
Probe(?), steel, possibly Japanese
1975-1985
Seven-Star Needles set, with plastic hammer device, for non-penetrative acupuncture therapy, from the surgery of a British practitioner c.1996, unsigned, Chinese, 1975-1985.
Box containing three graded cupping glasses, a syringe and glasses for Dry Cupping Vacuum Therapy, from the surgery of a British practitioner c.1996 (see note), Japanese, 1980-1990.
Two packets, each containing one hundred adhesive gold (kinryu) points, used during long-term stimulation during acupuncture therapy, from the surgery of a British practitioner c.1996, unsigned, Japanese, 1980-1985.
1644-1911
Earthenware pharmacy jar, glazed, with lid, Chinese, Ching dynasty (1644-1911)
Symbolic wooden doctors sword in form of scabbard and handle, decorated with carved dragon, red cord for suspension, Japanese, 1801-1900
1986
Coat from Tibetan Shaman's costume, collected in Bhaktapur, Nepal, 1986
Wooden geomantic compass and perpetual calendar, Chinese
Cupping horn, metal, Indian, for extraction of poison by suction
1701-1800
Statue of a seated Buddha, hollow bronze figure, traces of brightly coloured paint remain on surface, possibly Chinese, 1700s
Ivory figure in the form of a man massaging the back of another man who is reading, signed, Japan, 1700s or 1800s
1870-1910
Pair of shoes with low heel and pointed toe, silk uppers, embroidered in silk thread over paper, worn by Chinese lady with bound feet Chinese, 1870-1910
1725-1730
Acupuncture training model, with bronze acupuncture figure, in silk covered box bearing text of an Imperial decree of Yung Chen, China, c. 1727
1981-1990
Neuro-Softer W-4, low frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) for direct application of current via acupuncture needles, manufactured in Japan, 1980-1990, from the surgery of a British practitioner c.1996.
