Many pieces of turkmen "jewelry" were sewn to clothing as amulets. This rare teke turkomen pendant was originally worn as a necklace and still has the original leather neckstrap. This piece has 5 flat carnelians and gold wash or "fireguilded" detail. The pendant is 6 inches across and 10 inches long.
This wonderfully detailed Antique pendant is from Tibet. It has silver dragons surrounding a large veined turquoise stone with a smaller coral stone. Additional small bits of turquoise form the background for the dragons tail. The entire scene is backed and bordered with scalloped bronze. The rear of the pendant another oval shaped turquoise stone in a ribbed bezel. The pendent can be easily suspended from a simple black cord using the 2 attached bronze loops.
The pendent is 3 inches acr ...click for details
This antique document case would be used to house and transport important documents. The high quality silver decoration of vines and flowers uses both pierced and repousse techniques. The curious emblem displays a spade and heart and club....no diamonds. Originally owned by a wealthy family, it is from what was considered northern India, (possibly now Pakistan), during the Raj period, before partition. This document case has been held in a private collection for many years. ...click for details
This short sword and matching scabbard from Bhutan is elaborately decorated. The knife handle or sword hilt has a leather cover which is detail with silver reposse and a coral bead. The wooden scabbard is covered with leather and is decorated with an elaborate silver reposse dragon. The knife blade is has a series of added symbols. The belt loop is also decorated with a series of silver objects.
This Miao silver drinking horn would have used for special occasions i.e. prospective in-laws visiting etc. The horn is small 6.5 inches from tip to far rim. The reposse design of dragon and fish is mirrored on each side of the horn.
This Yao necklace and matching pair of earrings have added beads and long silk tassels. Both are light weight and easy to wear. The earrings are hollow with the same repeated design pattern on the backside. The wire loop may be a bit thick as they were made to accommodate the large ear holes which are traditional for the Chinese minority groups. These loops could easily be changed out for posts or a thinner wire hoop.
For women of indigenous cultures, sewing needles were often hard to come by and considered valuable tools. Commonly, among such groups, cases were specifically designed to protect and safeguard the sewing. This particular antique silver needle case is from the Chinese Miao ethnic minority group and would have been worn by the women as a decorative costume ornament during festival.
Both sides of this antique Chinese pomander have matching pierced carvings of swirling fauna with a butterfly. By sliding the matching jade bead up, the two pieces of the pomander can easily be separated enough to slip a perfume soaked cloth inside. Occasionally worn around a woman's neck, pomanders were also hung in a room add a pleasing scent.
The pomander alone is 2.5 inches across at the widest point, 2 inches ...click for details
This wide cuff Chinese bracelet has deeply repousse design composed of detailed symbols related to Miao Ethic Minority myths and legends. Such bracelets would have been worn in matched pairs, one on each wrist, by the women of the "short skirt" Miao of Dan Zhai, and the bracelets would have been handed down from mother to daughter for generations.
The cuff is almost 3 inches at the widest point in the front b ...click for details
This antique Japanese cast iron teapot, aka tetsubin, has a reserved single butterfly on one side and a typically delicate floral design on the other. There is a silver inlay design on the handle and a signature on the inside of the lid.
This antique Tibetan Gau has repousse silver front with animal and fish motif. A large coral bead decorated the center and a small turquoise bead decorates the top. The back has a hand hammer copper cover which can be removed to add sutras (prayers). Both men and woman would wear Gaus during Tibetan gatherings, festivals and Buddhist religious celebrations.
This Gau is 4.5 inches x 4 inches and almost 2 inches thic ...click for details
Traditionally, Yorba authority figures were used for royal ceremonies and placed on altars of chief’s and important dignitaries, demonstrating prestige, wealth, and status. This pair dates from the mid 20th century. Both figures are fully beaded. The Male is 26-27 inches high and carries a rifle. The female is 24 inches high. She wears earrings of Coulrie shells and beads and a necklace of hardwood discs. The leather basket she carries has beaded detailing and a beaded strand connects the ba ...click for details
This pair of Kingfisher hair ornaments are from my personal collection. The kingfisher bird feathers are in very good condition and the ornaments are 4 inches across at their widest point. Each piece has its original hair pin attached to the paper back with a wire.
The kingfisher bird feathers were a favorite item used to decorate ornaments for both hair and clothing, usually hats and headbands. The earliest ornamen ...click for details
This man's beaded hat aka skullcap is typical of the Pashtun people in the region of Southern Afganistan. Because of the extensive beading pattern, it is rather stiff and heavy.
Presumably, the interior layer of fabric was from pieced of fabric from other garments.
For festivals including her wedding, a Yao girl of marriageable age would wear the traditional "celestial crown" clipped to her hair on the top of her head. This traditional ornament was common among the Yao of Laos, Thailand and China's Yunnan Province. Upon reaching puberty, the Yao girl would be expected to make her own crown following traditional patterns and methods of her local region. For some, the celestial crown would be worn as daily ornament, while other Yao groups woul ...click for details
