Burma / Myanmar, Pyu city states (200-1000 CE). The larger depicting a tiger with the back arched and the front paws extended forward as it is preparing to pounce its prey, the smaller carved as a humped bull with long horns standing foursquare. Both carved from semitranslucent agate of reddish-orange colors with gray bands and few amber hued inclusions, bearing a central drilling showing ancient toolmarks and allowing for suspension as a pendant.

Condition: The smaller in good condition with some wear, the larger with a reattached breakage to the front paws.
Provenance: Estate of Paolo Bertuzzi. Paolo Bertuzzi (1943-2022) was an engineer and fashion stylist from Bologna, Italy. Born as the son of Enrichetta Bertuzzi, the founder of Hettabretz, one of the most important leather merchants in Italy which crafted womenswear for royals and celebrities including The Rothschild family, Audrey Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor. Paolo Bertuzzi later took over his mother's business and created exclusive pieces, some of which were exhibited in the Costume Institute at Metropolitan Museum of New York. He was also an avid collector of antiques for more than 60 years. His collection includes archaic and contemporary art, focusing mainly on Asian ancient pieces. Over decades he developed close relations with galleries, museums, curators, and auction houses while shaping his collection. He edited two important books about Asian art, Goa Made - An Archaeological Discovery, about a large-scale archaeological project carried out with the Italian and Indonesian governments, and Majapahit, Masterpieces from a Forgotten Kingdom.

Weight: 22.6 g
Dimensions: Length 2 cm - 5.8 cm