Big "Bianlian" Nuo mask of Tudi Gong, the "God of soil" and grains, essential in an agrarian country. He is the main actor in Wunuo cult, usually represented with a smiling face, and long eyebrows and beard often missing or replaced later; when missing, we can see holes where the hair was fastened.
Bianlian means face changing: this mask has an articulated jaw which could be animated by the wearer...

Huangyangmu (rosewood) pipe ornament of a monkey riding a guardian lion; promotion and protection symbol.
The lion holds a mobile ball in its mouth; wonderful patina and beautiful colour, very good condition despite its great age, 18th C? H :4 cms

Nuo mask of Tang Shi Tai Po, venerable Tang lady, the Guardian of the peach tree (the peach of immortality); identifiable because she has the" fat face" of the Tang court ladies; backside scratched (for ritual purpose ?); 22x14 cms, end of 19th C. Hunan. (see bibliography)

Chinese Glass Mandarin Hat Finial converted to lamp Finial, wrapped around with silver and gold color leafy shape band which is all original but bottom piece is soldiered to brass lamp adapter. The clear glass knob is 1 1/4" diameter.

DESCRIPTION: A fine, large Chinese boxwood toggle in the shape of a Chinese coin with four script characters on each side surrounding the square hole. Around the edge, various plant and animal forms are carved in high relief, including a flower, bird, squirrel and bat. The suspension cord, connecting it to an object such as a tobacco pouch, would have been strung through the openings under the bat's wings. Wonderful patina, excellent condition, and dating from the 1800's or earlier...

These 3 bobbins aka thread holders would have been used in China when hand sewing was the major activity of the women of the house. Each bobbin was individually carved and each has a small ball which moves freely within the carved slot. Either individually or as a group, they are nice ethnographic artifacts of the Chinese culture during the Qing dynasty.

Antique Chinese tall wardrobe cabinet, made all of jumu (elm) wood with very beautiful grain, middle bar has been attached to door so that the cabinet opens with clear access to interior, inside has one shelf with two small drawers of jumu wood finished on the front to match the exterior of cabinet, bottom has one large drop in panel that locks with key, 19th century. Size: 78 1/2" high x 42 3/4" wide x 21" deep.

Chinese wooden hand carved mask of a smiling man, its jaw left open so that the wearer had an easier time speaking. Features of the mask include red lacquer lips, black lacquer eyebrows, nice carved details such as the teeth, nostrils, wrinkled forehead and hair. 18th/19th century Size: 6.75" height, 4.75" width

This plain pot metal vessel was used to contain hair oil during the reign of Chinese Emperor Daoquang about 1850. Standing about 6 inches high and 3.5 inches diameter at the widest point, a woman would dip her comb into the oil before combing her hair. I do have an identical matched pair of these but am selling them separately.

Huangyangmu (rosewood) pipe ornament of a Foo Dog with a moving ball in its mouth.
Rare representation, perfect condition, beautiful patina ; H : 4,5 cms

Chinese carved Ivory Toggle, Lotus Seeds carved out of the solid Ivory tip, Ca. 1800's, 1 1/2" high, 1 1/4" x 1 1/8" wide, with some naturally aged small hairline, beautifully aged old patina over well carved and polished surface, the details is very fine. The condition is good.

Chinese heavy carved Stone Slab with Rabbit carving on one side and Floral branch on the other side, Ca. 19th C. 12 1/2" high, 14 1/2" wide, 5 1/2" deep on bottom plat form section. Nicely aged old look, the condition is good, no major damages.

This traditional Chinese antique tea container was made from bamboo. The outside has a carved rib design. This tea caddy would have been used regularly by family and friends during the Qing dynasty. Some minimal loss of finished surface on top ...to be expected with age and use...9.5 inches high

Carved from a single block of hardwood, this Chinese drum has great patina aged surfaces. An old folk art instrument, it shows the wear of use during many musical performances at chinese operas and street festivals. When "beaten" with its accompanying drum stick, it has a deep attractive sound.

This is one of 4 small individual antique Chinese carvings which I am listing separately. I had always assumed them to be 4 of the eight immortals but upon close inspection, I am now not sure which gods, ancestors or legends they represent. Each character stands with its own faithful foo type dog and carries an implement of some kind. Each has a peg on the bottom which fits into the own homemade stand.

This character stands 5.75 inches x 3 inches wide and 1 inch thick...

Brass toggle of a male baby wearing an apron and holding an ingot.
Symbol of fertility and wealth, and expression of the desire for a male descendant. Very appreciated wedding present.
Excellent craftsmanship, beautiful patina, perfect condition (see pix). H: 4,5 cms.19th C. or before. TCT 245 (see Bibliography)

Nuo masks of Tudi Gong and 2 Xiaopo. 2 Xiaopo: small masks for children. Very humorous set of 3, beautiful craftsmanship and nice backside patina.
Tudigong: the "God of soil" and grains, essential in an agrarian country. He is the main actor in Wunuo cult, usually represented with a smiling face, and long eyebrows and beard often missing or replaced later; when missing, we can see holes where the hair was fastened. Chinese character for "happiness" on the cap...

Chinese dome top woven Bamboo Basket on attached high stand, Ca. before 1900, 11 1/2" high, 11" diameter top rim with brass hinged round dome top. Two(2) Brass handles on the both sides and Brass lock compartment in front. Two(2) brass rings hold the top and bottom together. Low relief Chinese floral design on the lacquered gesso panels on the high foot. Gesso applied on the cloth finish, and glued together inside the top rim area...

Though sourced from northern China, this antique powder flask is most likely Chinese ethnic minority from the southern regions. There are 3 flasks for carrying gun powder. Used rifle cartridges are used both as stoppers and bullets are held in the shaped spacers between the powder flasks. It was made by shaping and then sewing 2 pieces of heavy leather (probably elephant hide)together.

This set of 4 matching Chinese toggles were hand carved from animal bone, probably the vertebra. Each side is carved with an identical design which continues around the side. They are well aged and show both wear and usage. As artifacts from the folk art culture, they were probably carved by the person who intended to use them to secure his personal items. Each piece is approx 1 inch in diameter and .5 inches thick.

Nuo mask of the Fish Eater; extremely rare character; good condition; remnants of pigments, backside scratched (for ritual purpose ?). 26x14 cms. 19th C (see bibliography)

Hardwood Nuo mask, big and heavy, representing an unidentified character with a very serene expression. Coat of red lacquering on plaster, long gone around mouth and nose (the red color is generally used to indicate courage, loyalty and devotion).
Very good condition (a few little chips on the back along the edge), very nice inside patina; 26x17 cms. Beginning of 19th C, Hunan. (see bibliography)

These antique iron stirrups probably belonged to a low level horse soldier of the Chinese army during the Qing dynasty. They are well patinated.

Found in a tomb, the pipe having been buried with its owner. Oxidised baitong (the bamboo stem has decayed), beautiful bowl . L : 18c H : 8c

The metal bowl of this traditional old bronze Chinese spoon is heavily patinated from extensive use and was probably used for heating maybe opium.

An artifact of past Chinese Culture, this old Abacus has hand made beads of what appears to be clay, specifically stoneware. The frame is a dark hardwood, probably walnut. It is approx 5 long.

During the Qing dynasty, carved wood blocks were used to produce the ancestor portraits which decorated the homes of many Chinese families. The Chinese translation of the term "ancestor Portraits" can be misleading to Westerners. These were not portraits of the particular family's ancestors. They were portraits of various Chinese officials, emperor, empress, etc. for whom the family wished to show respect and or allegiance...

For centuries, before there was electricity, throughout Asia, Puppetry Arts were a popular form of traveling entertainment... A platform with a cloth screen, lit from the back by candlelight, provided the stage.... The shadow images were black against the white "background". Hence, the puppets had a minimum of color and only the necessary intricate cut outs for personality as they were sometimes presented to the audience with the "handlers" after a performance...

Chinese antique bamboo sewing basket, interior design with character "Xi" and exterior with " Fu", Qing Dynasty . Size: Diameter of the basket is 13.25 inches and it stands 4 inches high, in very good condition.

Very old wood toggle of a pair of shoes ; L: 4cms, TCT 84 (see Bibliography)

A round leather storage box possibly for the safe keeping of a hat, ornament, or item of dress. The box measures about 7 1/4" in diameter x 2 1/2" tall, and dates to the 19th Century. The box's dark lacquer finish and hardware are in excellent condition, both inside and outside. A fine example of Chinese Folk Art. Free shipping within the USA.

Every dish with a different decoration. Diameter 13 cm. All in good condition with normal age wear. From Shanxi province. All dishes with cyclical date 1843.

This small Mongolian hunters flint strike pouch still has flint stone inside. Also know as strike-a-light in American Indian cultures, this hunters folk art implement has bronze tooled fittings. Well aged and in excellent condition...measures 4 inches across the widest part of the striker plate

DESCRIPTION: An antique Chinese boxwood toggle (Guajian) carved as a pair of men’s shoes resting side by side, a symbol of marital harmony and the wish for many sons. The shoes are elaborately carved with hollowed interior, relief banding, and incised designs on all sides including the soles. A hole running through the inner sides of each shoe forms the track used for threading cords from which this toggle would have been suspended as a counterweight to some other object...

This large Tea Caddy is made from a hollow Bamboo section. The cannister lid fits tightly in order to keep the tea fresh. This style caddy would have been used by a Chinese family of modest circumstances during the Qing Dynasty.

Great patina, darkened with age...a handsome piece that stands 10 inches high and 4 inches in diameter.

Old Chinese hand carved wooden mask depicting legendary king of old China. Face was gessoed and polychrome painted. 15 inches x 14 inches wide and 6 inches deep. some areas of chipped and worn paint consistent with age