Very big and beautiful antique lacquered 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...

Very beautiful and delicate antique lacquered mask of Xienfang Xiaojie, Miss Vanguard, wearing her characteristic phoenix headdress ; very expressive handwork, remnants of original marouflage.
Due to its quality and sophistication, this mask is probably a rare « court » nuo mask which belonged to the same set as M-T1Q. Very good condition, some lacquer missing (see pix). 24 x 16 cms. 19th C or before. RM 93,145,163; MC 122-125 (see bibliography)

A natural amber pendant with two bats, one on each side. The bats represent longevity and happiness. The bat and happiness sound is in the Chinese language is similar - both pronounced Fu. Size: L. 3cm. W. 2cm. Condition: No repairs, cracks or chips.

DESCRIPTION: A nice old Chinese toggle carved from a striated wood in the form of two peaches. The peach is a symbol of longevity, and this thick toggle has a wonderful aged patina that only comes from age and handling. Strung with a cord through the holes under the stems, it would have hung from a sash and been used as a counterweight to a tobacco pouch or other utilitarian object. A wonderful example of Chinese folk art, this toggle dates from the 1700’s...

Xian province, rare dated baket in lacquer a d wickerwork. Finely decorated with Buddhist symbols. H. 13 cm, diameter 12 cm. Bares the cyclical date 1828. Minor chips and age wear.

Lacquer and wickerwork, the inside of the lid serves as a presentation bowl for sweets. Decorated with Buddhist symbols. H. 16 cm, diameter 15 cm. Cyclical date 1857. Good condition with normal age wear.

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 long handled basket is out of Shanxi Province. There are the remnants of the original woven rattan "ring" on the handle which allowed the basket to be hung from a hook on the ceiling rafters...safe from rodents... Inside the rim of The outer basket, there is a smaller basket which allows for a separate food storage area... 25 inches tall and 10 inches wide at the bottom

This rare antique bag was made and used by the Yi ethnic minority... It was made from hand corded plant fiber,tied into a series of knots to form a shallow sack. Originally there would have been a fabric shoulder strap which would have been tied around the loops on either side of the top of the bag... The front of the bag is decorated with a traditional silver ornament depicting a butterfly. The bag is in tact: no holes, or rips but is dirty from use and age....

Old embroidered jacket panel from the Miao/Dong ethnic group Southwest China. See image for condition and size. Free Shipping

Old embroidered jacket panel from the Miao/Dong ethnic group Southwest China. See image for condition and size, with abstract phoenix and floral scroll. Free Shipping

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...

Lovely Chinese basket most likely woven by the Zhuang or another of the many ethnic minorities in Guangxi Zhuang, China where I bought this over 20 years ago. This woven from split reed stalks and has a nice soft feel to it. This piece is quite old, 50 to 100 years (best guess). It has an unusual trapezoidal/oval shape and I like it for its sturdy simplicity. Minor unraveling of some of the weaves here and there but in very good condition given it age...

Chinese Red Lacquer Bamboo Bridal Food Basket, early 1900's, 15" high with handle, 10" wide & square, contains inner wood tray inside the lower compartment, high lighted with raise carved gold lacquered design on high handle, one metal butterfly is missing on one side.

Asian buffalo Horn with Silver over copper mounts with turquoise stones... This type of drinking horn was a common household item used throughout Mongolia...each family member had his (or her) own drinking horn and they were kept on a wooden rack which was made for that purpose... Condition 2 beads missing...silver is worn through in several area,exposing copper base...which is commensurate with normal use and aging

Chinese Red Lacquer on Natural tree Branch Wood Walking Stick or Cane, carved Scholar Handle, 30" high, 9 1/2" wide-carved Scholar Handle, naturally polished by using for many years, tip of handle shows some lacquer loses.

Fine old, three paneled, supplementary weft embroidered wedding blanket from the Zhuang ethnic group Guizhou Province China. Handspun and handwoven cotton thread foundation and silk for the embroidery. The central area is dominated by the “well” “#” pattern, while the border is a combination of the “well” pattern inside a “wanzi” swastika meander. There are few small faded areas but no holes or tears. W: 104cm/40in and L: 140cm/56in.

Unusual Miao embroidered central panel, of a wedding apron costume. There is a coiled dragon in the center with two phoenixes above- surrounded with longevity characters, anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figures. It has a tattered calendered silk black border silk weft embroidered all the threads are handspun. The orange dye has bled into the white field some, so please see enlargements. H: 61.5cm/24.2in x D: 33cm/13in. Circa early-mid 20th century

Superb 3 paneled weaving from the Zhuang ethnic group in Guangxi Zhuang, Southern China. The body is woven from very fine handmade cotton thread while the weft supplementary embroidery is done with silk floss threads (the small blue indigo medallions are done with cotton). Quite a heavy piece because of all the embroidery. L: 161cm/63in and W: 100cm/39in.circa first half of the 20th century.

Antique Chinese small cabinet with six open shelves originally intended for displaying small precious artworks. There are two small drawers between the upper and lower shelves. The bottom portion of the chest has two cabinet compartments opened by hinged doors. The entire surface of the wooden cabinet is lacquered and detailed with vine and floral motifs.

Age: Ming Dynasty

Dimensions: 24" high x 21 3/4" wide x 7 1/4" deep

In China, older age was/is respected and valued... During the late Qing Dynasty, many wealthier Chinese used eyeglasses to appear older...sometimes clear glass lenses were used for those with good eyesight Personally, I never colored my hair before traveling to China.... This eyeglass case was carved from water buffalo horn...It has the original hand twisted string and a small movable stop.... and a few minor scratches from use and age

This early 20th century Chinese natural gourd cricket cage is 4 ¼ inches high and 3 inches on the widest part. The rim of the gourd and lid are carved rose wood, the center of the lid is carved ebony. The center part depicts a sage sitting behind rock in a garden; banana trees are behind him. It is in excellent condition.

A must have for any lotus shoe collector. This iron was used for pressing lotus shoes. The thin curved end was useful for getting into the toe area. Made of iron, it is somewhat rusty-i.e. pleasantly aged. Length tip to tip is 13"

This rural Mongolian bucket is made from lemon wood and was used daily to draw water from the local village well. Truely an ethnographic relic with original iron fittings, and evidence of constant use and old repairs. It is both large and heavy. The diameter of the bucket is 18" and the bucket alone is 14" deep, add another 11" for the handle and iron toggle fitting. The weight is approx 15 lbs. Originally made about 250 yrs ago and probably used constantly for a couple of centuries.

An unidentified hard wood was used to carve this set of 4 matching wooden saucers. They would have been used for tea bowls and have traditional red/orange lacquer paint over a treebark carved pattern on the front surface. Each saucer was carved into a diamond shape with gently curved sides and are each was carved into a thin, shallow bowl shape. This is a rare and unusual set in very good condition.

Each piece measures 5 inches x 4 inches and 1 inch deep.

Intricately detailed, this miniature scaled model of a japanese tea house was the result of a village folk art craftsman sometime between the late 1890-1920. Each piece is carved from bamboo and is pegged into place. The rice paper shutter doors slide and addition solid shutters are stored in the exterior swinging compartments. The roof is easily removed to reveal the inside which is furnished with an alter, bamboo scroll,flower vase and serving tansu with sliding doors...

These Chinese long wooden bobbins were used for winding thread for routine sewing chores. As a household tool, used by generations of women within the family, they were hand carved and painted with the continious use in mind. Inside each bobbin there is a small bead which freely moves back and forth and acts as a noise maker when the bobbin is in motion...or falling to the floor.

From the Yi ethnic minority group, this antique Chinese container would have been used to store tobacco. The decorative cinnabar paint color draws attention to the gentle dome shapes of the lid and bottom sections, which fit together with a deep overlap. The worn areas of the cinnabar expose the black lacquer undercoat...

Chinese Group of Stoneware Puppetheads and hands on iron stands, 19th century, charming characatures of daily life in China done in earthtones and shades of blue. Round holes of attachment at lower ends of pieces. Hollow cores. Head Sizes range from 6.75"H to 8.5"H without stands, Losses to various heads and hands

These 3 small oil lamps were brought back to the US by a Baptist missionary who lived and traveled extensively throughout China. Oil lamps like these were used for light source extensively throughout rural China by poor peasants. Simply made, presumed cut from scraps of tin and soldered into shape.. the lids come off for filling with oil and some original home made wicks remain in place. The tallest is 5 inches high...

A beautiful late 19th/20th Chinese coin sword, usually used for religion ceremony in excellent condition. L:48cm

Antique Chinese Scroll made of ink and mineral colors on paper. Story illustrates Dung Fang Shuo, the daoist sage, and auspicious symbols carrying the peach of immortality, with the bat of longevity flying overhead. Two seals are displayed. First seal reading, "Li Guang Jin yin", second seal is the studio seal. Artist's name is Li, Guang Jin from the studio Fu Qing. Circa late 19th Century Dimensions: Overall Size: 78.5" High X 56.25" Wide

Antique Chinese wooden stool with a charming, rustic look. The seat is comprised of one solid piece with bold woodgrain, with four legs rounded at the feet and connected by horizontal stakes. Size: 21" height, 17" width

Paper fan, mounted on rib and guard flat sticks, made of wood nicely lacquered and gold painted with elaborate human, geometric and floral designs. The paper part is made of two concentric bands, richly decorated on both sides with polychrome, gold and silver hand painted miniature scenes showing different characters on various situations. The heads of the characters are painted on ivory, and their garments are made of colored silk, all glued on the paper base...

Made of painted wood, depicting husband and wife, seated on a chair. Most probably from the Hunan Province. The lady still has a small parcel with offerings in her back. We opened it up and found a seahorse, pieces of stone and mica and other materials. H. 27 and 29,5 cm. Condition: heavily eaten by woodworms, which adds to the charme. The figures were treated by the former owner and are perfectly clean.

Depicting Heshang, the Buddhist monk. Painted wood. From Hunan province. H. 22 cm. (33 cm. with stand). Excellent condition with normal age wear.