This marvelous piece of ancient pottery is an offering vessel, sometimes referred to as a "spirit jar", from roughly the Five Dynasties period (907-960 AD) of Classic Imperial China. These intriguing vessels first appeared to Western collectors around the turn of the century and were quite a delightful find. Appearing in the ruins of a long forgotten monastery near Kunming, hundreds of these jars were discovered in many sites in and around Yunnan...

The Virgin in Prayer, Early 19th Century. Oil on Canvas measuring 22 by 17 inches in a gilt frame 26.5 by 22 inches (The original framed canvas has been placed into a larger frame – see back of painting). This work of art depicts the face and praying hands of Mary, her sad expression with downcast eyes and pursed mouth, clothed in a white palla with yellow trim and a blue robe with red trim; executed in sombre colours and with emphasis on the Virgin's sad and thoughtful facial expression...

Chinese Han Dynasty Gilt Bronze Chimera Wonderful Chinese Han Dynasty figure of a chimera. The mythical creature is whimsically posed with it's head turned over it's shoulder and it's mouth wide with it's tongue out. It's feet are hooves and on it's back are wings. Made of bronze and gilded, beautiful patina, eyes are made of inlaid turquoise.

Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD)

Size: 5 1/4" wide x 4 3/8" high.

A Russian icon, Theotokos of Kazan, also Our Lady of Kazan, depicts the Theotokos Mary with the Christ, produced in wood, tempura, silvered brass oklad with cloisonné enamels on the nimbus. A hand painted plaque is mounted below the image. Condition is excellent with one piece of missing enamel. This fine icon dates to the 19th C., most likely late. Dimension: 12 1/4" x 10 3/4"

This is antique ecclesiastical sheet music in Latin, from earlier centuries, commonly known as an "antiphonal". These are normally seen as hand painted manuscripts on vellum (animal skin). The present example (19 3/4" by 14") is a rather typical example, with red bars, brown/sepia lettering and notes and a few capital letters in colors (in this case, one blue, one red)...

Antique 18th-19th century Chinese bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara Quan Yin - Kuan Yin seated in dhyanasana on a lotus base. The goddess of compassion and mercy is adorned with crown and necklace

MEASUREMENTS: Height: 12.3 cm (4 7/8 in). Dimensions of the base: 7.8 cm x 5.5 cm (3 1/8 in x 2 1/8 in).

CONDITION: In good condition considering its age showing its age and usage, worn out on the exposed areas with old natural dark brown patina...

Antique mother-of-pearl carvings from the 19th century. Christian icon of convex oval form, finely hand carved in low relief with a central raised panel depicting "The Nativity" with a winged angel above.

Shells such as these were sold in the 18th -19th century to Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, where they were carved in relief and pierced by hand by local Palestinian craftsmen...

Authentic Antique, late 19th century, African, Ethiopian Christian necklace composed of 46 handmade "roundish" silver beads, natural undyed Branch Corals, two large round shaped silver beads incised on the surface with geometrical pattern and elaborate Silver Ethiopian Coptic Cross pendant of early form, with a hinge!

MEASUREMENTS: Approximately:

Overall length in the double string including pendant: 38.5 cm (15.16 inches). Height of the silver Pendant: 7.6 cm (2.99 inches)...

Authentic Antique 18th-19th century Russian Orthodox three-folded brass triptych icon the center panel “The Mother Of Good Joy OF All Who Sorrow”; in the centre The Virgin with a warder in her right hand with the groups of people on her sides, on the top part The Vernicle (Holy Face).Left fold: archangel Michael and apostle Peter, Stprelate Basil the Great and St. George the Great martyr, St. prelate John the Chrysostom and St. metropolitan Peter...