The Garden Ponds collection includes many stunning antiques from Thailand, Southern India, and Indonesia. Many of these pieces have deep cultural and historical significance, tracing back to the stories of ancient religious practices, and the migration of ideas across the ages.
To make room for some of our new finds, our eclectic antiques collection will be going on sale on Wednesday May 1st until Saturday May 4th. Find an antique treasure discounted up to 50 percent off. The diverse antiques collection ranges from bronze vessels and statuary to hand-carved stone pieces. Learn more about three of our unique pieces below and be sure to stop by and see them for yourself, in person at our nursery in Kilauea.
Bronze Srivijaya Style Bodhisattva
This serene deity is a 19th century cast bronze is from a Buddhist marine empire based on the island of Sumatra. Sumatra is in modern-day Indonesia and was a pivotal place of marine trade and cultural exchange. The regal stance of this beautifully patinaed piece is framed with four arms, arranged two on each side. Rich in iconography we see the front right hand delicately placed in the Vitarka Mudra, the expression or seal of reasoning, wisdom, or discussion – making this piece an excellent addition to a study, or place of intellectual discussion.
The front left hand holds the stem of a lotus bud which entwines around the left front arm. The lotus bud symbolizes enlightenment and purity, as a lotus is understood to emerge from the dark, muddy pond bottom, unscathed.
The Hand-Carved Stone Wheel of Dharma
The Wheel of Dharma is a widely recognized symbol in Buddhist art, iconography, and literature. It is commonly used in Buddhist temples, shrines, statues, and religious artifacts as a visual representation of the Buddha’s teachings and the path to enlightenment.
The Wheel of Dharma symbolizes the cyclical nature of existence and the path to liberation from suffering. It represents the Buddha’s teachings as a guiding principle for attaining liberation (nirvana) from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara).
Our replica Wheel of Dharma is a 20th Century reproduction of the early Khmer Empire – what is modern day northern Cambodia and is a royal Buddhist symbol. The original Wheel of Dharma is found in the collection at the National Museum of Bangkok and is from the 13thCentury.
The original Wheel of Dharma has 12 spokes and the replica has 24 spokes. Both represent the path to enlightenment. The figure holding two unopened lotus buds at the bottom of the wheel is Surya – sun deity, and creator of the universe and the source of all life. He is the supreme soul who brings light and warmth to the world. It is Surya who brings the lotus bloom. The two small figures on each side of the wheel, holding it up are considered to be “gana” or dwarfs. The gana dwarfs are “troops” that attended to Shiva and are led by Ganesha.
Life Size Chola Style Parvati
Standing at 5 feet tall, this graceful and elegant goddess is a solid cast bronze from the early 20th Century Chola dynasty. Exquisite detailing of the hands and adornments are typical of the elevated art that emerged during this era.
This late bronze incorporates the fluid Chola style – giving the piece a feeling of movement. Her stance is known as the tri-bent pose or Tribhanga. In this pose the body is oppositely bent at the knees, waist and neck with the result being the formation of a gentle “S” shape. This is considered the most graceful and sensual position of the classical Indian dance form, Odissi. Chola Period bronzes were cast using the lost-wax technique. Each bronze would have had an individual wax model making no two statues identical.
Why include Parvati in your home?
Parvati is known for her emphasis on devotion and surrender to the divine. She is the Hindu goddess of fertility, love, devotion, and determination. She is a manifestation of Shakti, the divine feminine energy of the universe. She is the wife of Shiva, the supreme being. She is the mother of Skanda, the god of war, and Ganesh, the remover of obstacles.
Parvati is often associated with marital bliss and family harmony. Having her statue in your home can symbolize the desire for a harmonious family life and invoke her blessings for the well-being and protection of family members.
This masterful reproduction of a Chola Style Parvati was cast nearly 100 years ago in the famous Shivite village of Swamimali in Tamil Nadu, Southern India.
Come by the nursery and see for yourself the beauty of these timeless pieces. Antiques are on sale from May 1-4th, 2024.
Mahalo nui loa and we hope to see you soon!
Saim Caglayan
What are the prices?
Garden Ponds Nursery
Thank you for your interest. Everything will be available for viewing on Wednesday, May 1st at 12:00 pm when we open – with prices and discounts listed. We welcome you to come and visit us. If visiting in person is not an option, call the nursery at 808-828-6400 and we would be happy to arrange another way to view the peices. Mahalo nui.