The Villa Del Prado Light of Asia Collection was assembled over several decades by an ardent collector of Asian Art. The ivory collection is particularly noteworthy with its fine collection of ivory okimono and other ivory carvings of Buddha Shakyamuni. It is the Internet's most extensive collection of ivory Buddha statues and is one of the leading collections of its type anywhere in the world. As the owner and curator of this collection is advancing in years, a sale of the ivory collection is being considered.

For serious inquiries about the purchase the collection please contact us by email. The price is 1.4 million USD. Individual pieces are not for sale.

The ivory collection was assembled from many sources over a series of decades and represents a lifelong devotion to both the principles of Buddhism and the special and unique artistry in these tiny carvings. Ranging in height from less than one inch to more than 9 inches, many of these fall under the heading of Japanese okimono, carved during the Meiji period in Japan, many of them signed by the artist and representing the work of such notable okimono artists as Gyokuzan, Mitsuji, Yoshiyuki, & Meigyoku. In addition there are pieces from China, Thailand, Malaysia, and India. More than 55 in total. The entire ivory collection can be viewed on its own website TheIvoryBuddha.com. Acquisition of this collection will also include transfer of the domain and its contents.

Antique ivory carvings of Buddha Shakyamuni have grown increasingly rare in the last couple decades. With the ban on the import of ivory into the United States, there is very little trade in these items any more. Auctions of the estates of wealthy individuals represent about the only opportunity to obtain quality items like these and it would take decades to begin to assemble such a collection again, even if the collector were to do extensive travelling in Asia and visit many antique shops. A visit by the curator of this collection to 5 cities in Japan in the 90's yielded only one single okimono. This opportunity to purchase the Villa Del Prado Ivory Collection is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the serious investor. The monetary value of this collection is sure to increase greatly in the coming decades, especially now with trade in ivory being banned around the world.

Aside from mere monetary value, there is the considerable and intangible spiritual value of owning such a collection. Antique ivory carvings often have religious figures such as the Amida (a.k.a. Amitabha) Buddha as their subjects. Ivory has had great religious significance to many cultures throughout history. Because ivory is a natural organic material which is at once beautiful and virtually indestructible, ivory has been viewed as having mystical powers that could only be attributed to a deity. The primary source of ivory, the elephant, is widely revered throughout Asia. Elephant Ivory was often used in religious ceremonies, and ivory carvings often pay tribute to gods and goddesses.

The white elephant is the most revered animal in all of Thailand and owes its high status to Buddhist mythology. Queen Maya, the mother of Prince Siddhartha, the future Buddha, was barren until she had a dream that a white elephant had entered her womb. Elephants also gain status from Ganesh, the Hindu god of knowledge and remover of obstacles, which features an elephant's head with a single tusk and four arms. Carved ivory sculpture, which has deep roots in Asia and is one of China's oldest arts, was not a widely used technique by Japanese artists until the Edo period, the final period of traditional Japan. Carvers of this time developed a mastery of ivory sculpture, particularly in miniature, that still influences modern Japanese artists and is prized by collectors around the world.

This priceless ivory Buddha collection within the Villa Del Prado art collection is the largest known collection of antique Ivory Okimono of the Amida Buddha in the world. The chance to purchase the collection in its entirety repesents a unique opportunity which only comes around once in a lifetime. 1.4 million dollars is a relatively small price to pay for this fine collection, considering the exhoribant prices being paid for single pieces of art these days, many of which have little if any true artistic merit. And with ivory trade now banned in China as of 2017, the value of antique ivory art is expected to soar in the coming decades.

The Villa Del Prado Light of Asia Collection, as a whole, is a broad cohesive representation of artistic renderings of Buddha Shakyamuni as interpreted in various cultural and historical contexts around the world where Buddhism has flourished. This exceptional collection contains more than 100 sculptures, fashioned from various materials, such as jade, bronze, wood, stone, porcelain and ceramic... and of course ivory, some contemporary, others centuries old. The entire collection was assembled from countless sources around the world over a period spanning several decades.