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
1681
Wooden acupuncture model, Japan, 1681
before 1930
Wooden statue depicting Shou Lao (Shou Xing), the Taoist god of longevity, Japanese
1801-1900
Steel tiger claw baghnakh with curved knife blade, Indian, 1801-1900
Wooden statue depicting 'Shou-hsing' god of longevity, Chinese
1880-1925
Kareau figure of carved and painted wood, anthropomorphic, representing standing male with wings and European clothes, from Nicobar Islands, Bay of Bengal, 1880-1925
Wooden disease mask, in the form of a human face, worn during Sanni Yakuma exorcism ritual to banish demons associated with disease, Sinhalese, Sri Lanka
1800-1920
Ivory anatomical figure showing the Qi channels, Japanese, 1800-1920
1771-1910
Carved wooden sanni mask, polychrome, worn in tovil dance to exorcise disease demon, possibly representing Amukku Sanniya, demon associated with vomiting and stomach diseases, Sinhalese, Sri Lanka, 1771-1910
1701-1900
Ivory netsuke, in the form of a skeleton leaning on a corn stalk with a rabbit nibbling at its elbow, Japanese, 18th or 19th century
1701-1800
Cash sword, made up of coins, used to protect a new born baby from harmful spirits, Chinese, 1701-1800
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
Double lice comb with two circular grips, incised and carved decoration horn, Indian, 1801-1900
Raffia hanging loop, for large wooden sign, painted with a demons face, hung outside house to keep away evil spirits, China, 1801-1900
1871-1900
Ivory figure, depicting a doctor feeling the pulse of a woman patient, signed Chikaaki, Japan, late 1800s
Ivory netsuke, in the form of a skeleton holding a fan and accompanied by an animal, possibly a badger, Japanese.
1980-1990
Single phase electronic induction motor, by Hitachi, Tokyo, for Dry Cupping Vacuum Therapy, with twenty glass cupping vessels of various grades, from the surgery of a British practitioner c.1996, unsigned, Japanese, 1980-1990.
1771-1800
Wooden netsuke, depicting a man with a moxa on his leg, from the Nagoya school, signed Tametaka, Japanese, 1771-1800
Ivory skull, with 3 toads and a snake climbing on it, possibly Japanese
1750-1800
Wooden figure showing moxibustion, signed Miwa with Kakihan, Japan, late 1700s
Ivory netsuke, in the form of a skeleton, perhaps representing death, strangling a man, Japanese, 1701-1900
Ivory figure in the form of a man massaging the back of another man who is reading, signed, Japan, 1700s or 1800s
Boxwood human torso showing internal organs, Japan, 1800-1920
1831-1870
Enema syringe, steel, India, 1800s
1771-1860
Painted wooden face mask, yellow with polychrome detail, representing Deva Sanniya, demon associated with epidemic diseases, inscription inside associates it with smallpox, Sinhalese, Sri Lanka, 1771-1860
Boxwood carved statue, in the form of a skeleton and a demon playing a musical instrument, depicting the dance of death, probably Japanese
Wooden netsuke in the form of a seated man grinding with a mortar and pestle, Japanese, 1701-1900
Carved and polychrome painted wooden face mask, representing Hevaya, the soldier from the kolam play, his face covered with sores and leeches, Sinhalese, Sri Lanka, 1771-1860
1771-1900
Painted wooden mask with ear pieces, representing kolam play character Maru Raksha (Marurassa), the Demon of Death, Sinhalese, Sri Lanka, 1771-1900
1700-1850
Tinder pistol in egg-shaped, fenestrated, pierced metal case, twin arms, twin steel worn as netsuke, Japanese, 1700-1850
Wooden model gandau of male figure in painted headdress riding a horse, north west Pakistan, 1801-1900
Stone amulet contained within a leather purse, by the Na-Khi tribe of South West China
Wooden model gandau of seated female figure in horned headdress, North West Pakistan, 1801-1900
Earthenware tea pot, Japanese, 18th or 19th century
Painted wooden mask, in form of ox head, damaged, most of horn missing, probably used in kolam play, said to be against jungle fever, Sri lanka, 1771-1860
Lancet, steel, Chinese
Ivory model of a skull, finely carved with a snake coiled around the top on which a toad sits, Japanese
Wooden printing block, depicting a buddist talisman carved in relief on one side. The talisman is depicted held in the palm of a hand. Tibetan, 1701-1900.
Ivory carved statue, in the form of half draped skeleton carrying a type of bucket and with a dog and some lotus flowers, Japanese
Painted wooden mask, in form of animal's head, ears missing, probably associated with kolam masked play, from Sri lanka, 1771-1860
Cupping horn, India
1801-1930
Double-ended brass spoon, Indian, 1801-1930
Carved wooden statue of Li T'ieh-Kuai , one of the 8 Taoist Immortals who came back in form of a beggar, Chinese, 1801-1900
Metal statue of White Tara with Buddhisattva (bodhisattva) crown, representing wisdom and divine purity, Nepalase or Tibetan, 1801-1900
Ivory netsuke, in the form of a skull with a snake threaded through it, Japanese, 1701-1900
Model of elephant carrying sacred alms bowl of Buddha, porcelain, Chinese
Wooden back scratcher, expanding and flattened at distal end, with fluted knop at proximal end, inlaid with metal and mother of pearl, Persian
Ivory statuette showing woman breast feeding her old mother-in-law, watched by her two children, Chinese
2005
Traditional clay 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.
1871-1920
Pair of fakir's sandals, with iron spikes through soles and wooden toe pegs, Indian, 1871-1920
1601-1900
Buddhist prayer wheel of silver and ivory, containing thousands of prayers, Tibetan, 1601-1900
