Interesting lot of attractive seals and including a large amulet, Mesopotamia, c. 3rd. mill. BC.

The amulet polished smooth in an nice green stone rectangular with a pierced handle and a piercing in the middle as well. The seals engraved with criss-cross and animals.

Size: The amulet measure 36 mm...

Attractive seal carved in the hemispheric-dome shape in a greenish-black hardstone, Early Achaemenid c. 7th.-5th. cent BC.

The seal engraved in the base with a fancy bird, probably a Peacock, which was a much favored bird among the Persians...

Rare Green glazed square small pot decorated with four different style molded figure of bird at each panel,Ming period (Possible older than ming).Pot in good conditions,no chipped,no hair line,free from any restoration,with just found glaze friting at the mouth rim and one tiny spot at the body.Size:4,2cm high.5,5cm wide.

Interesting and rare depiction of a woman and three men standing side by side on this slightly oval stamp which is probably a stylized scarab form with curved upperside. Carved in green stone with a faint cross on the back. The seal can probably be dating to the 3rd.-early 2nd. millenium BC.

Size: 22 mm x 20 mm. and 11 mm. tall.

Condition: Nice Very fine.

Added to the Oberländer collection in 1994...

A nice Nyonya bowl with butterflies and floral design. Nyonya wares are over-glaze polychrome enamelled porcelains made in Jingdezhen in the Kiangsi province of China for the Straits Chinese, or Babas, whose female counterparts are called Nyonyas, hence the term Nyonya ware. Nyonya wares were mainly reserved for festive occasions and special functions. Size: W.13cm. H. 5cm. Condition: No repairs. Some wear and ageing.

A Colima pre-Classic figure in fine condition with the tip of the head and left shoulder professionally restored to an unnoticeable state. 7.5" high.

A fine group 4 different 10 Tical opium weights from the Late Shan Empire, c. 1820-1860 AD.

Interesting study groupe representing 4 different late Burmese Shan styles of Hamsa birds. all with fine patinas and weighing 162,12 / 163,5 / 159,8 / 159,7 grams.

Condition: VF-EF for type, all 4 with nice patinas.

Provenance: John Abrahamsen Collection, important Danish private collection of c...

This long home spun background heavy cotton fabric is appliqued with embroideries salvaged from a very Dong minority old Jacket... the corner are accented with long beaded tassels... At great for table runner or shoulder scarf... Roughly point to point 73 inches long and 15.5 inches wide

This lovely old vest of damask silk is lightly padded for winter wearing. There is some sun fading on both front and back silk but overall condition is very good...original frog closures..hand stitched...cotton lining...

Mexican Pre Columbian Tlatilco Terracotta Head. Rare fragment from an early culture c 1200bc-600bc. Tlatilco is noted in particular for its high quality pottery pieces, many featuring Olmec iconography. Tlatilco figures were known for their elaborate hair styles. This Bust has the classic eyes a large detailed hair style neck piece and double spool earrings and large breasts . Size 2.25" by 1.5"

This Indonesian container would have been carried by a man using the handmade string as a shoulder strap. The "purse" was hand carved out of a local hardwood and both the top and bottom have decorative details.

The container sits stably on it base but can also be hung on the wall as an interesting sculpture artifact.

Approximately 9 inches high, 7.5 inches across and 4 inches deep.

Spanish colonial era Santo infant child from the Philippines estimated to be 19th Century.

Spanish colonial era Philippine Santo, figure of Saint Antonio Abad, estimated to be from mid-19th century, on a base (of perhaps different vintage) 13 inches including base.

A lovely Japanese cloisonne cosmetic box designed with flowers and gold tone flecks. It is in excellent condition and begs a new home. Measures 3.5" diameter by 2.25" high. Circa 1900

Antique Kalinga basket for carrying and storing rice or vegatables made by the mountain people from northern Luzon, the largest island in the Philippine archipelago. This coil basket is perfectly symmetrical and has nice warm patina. The coil weaving technique, materials (finely split rattan and nito vine), and design are consistent with baskets made by the Kalinga tribe. This rare and very beautiful collectible basket is in excellent condition and measures 12” high and about 10" diameter.

This is a wonderful Qing Dynasty child's hat from Shui minority group in the Rong Jiang area. It is traditional looking Chinese cap style made with silk fabric and silk split thread embroidery, and top knot. This hat is over 100 years old, and has wonderfully soft patina, and shows some wear. Truely charming

A Famille Rose Dish. Decorated to the centre with swallows in flight above a pheasant perched in a flowering tree and watching a beetle. The rim with birds among floral sprays. Chinese Mid 19thC.Diameter 6 1/8" (15.5 cm). Condition; short hairline in rim 1.5 cm.

19th century Chinese small carved boxwood architectural panel depicting a Chinese scholar with 3 attendants among pavilions and trees. Must have been part of an altar piece. Wonderful quality carving with piercing and deep undercutting, rich detailing (see several Fungus of Immortality), very pleasant wear and patina. Size 2 3/8 x 4 7/8 x 9/16 inches. See the companion piece in my catalog.

This antique pair of Chinese lotus shoes were worn by a woman in He Bei Province during the end of the 1800's. Small bits of Leather are nailed to the heals because the women of that time liked the sound of the heal hitting the floor as they walked. A delicate floral motif was carefully embroidered to both sides of each shoe.

there are no rips and no tears but clearly these shoes were worn numerous times.

Dish decorated with rock and floral on the center and floral scroll on the exterior, glazed base. PERIOD : Early Ming (1400-1487 AD) MEASUREMENTS: 20 cm wide. CONDITION: good, with two frittings to the rim, no cracks, no hairlines and free from restorations.

19th century Chinese small carved wooden architectural panel depicting a court lady with a female attendant. Must have been part of an altar piece. Very nice quality carving, rich detailing, very pleasant wear and patina. Height 4 7/8 inches.

A beautiful example of a sweet meat or pastry dish used in the Japanese tea ceremony; the rich and heavy handed design adds color and depth, yet it is restrained for a pleasant afternoon cup of tea with a light snack. You can almost envision the ceremony with the open sliding doors overlooking the garden as you are being served. This dish measures 10.25” square x 1.75” deep.

Small ovoid vase with short neck; lugs on two sides of the neck. Rich brown iron glaze over a gray-beige colored ceramic body, leaving the lower 1/3 part free.
Sawankhalok ware from Sukhothai, 15th -16th century. Or possibly Chinese, Jian yao, Song dynasty, 12th – 13th century
H 4.5 inches (11.2 cm).
Very good condition.

From an old private TX collection of high quality Japanese and Chinese ceramics and antiques

This Chinese lady's purse was made with silk satin fabric and hand embroidered with silk thread using a satin embroidery stitch. The edges are bound with carefully aligned silk threads. Each side opens to a separate storage compartment and there is a third compartment which is accessed from the top of the purse.

Made and used during the late Qing Dynasty, the quality of the materials and workmanship clearly show that this purse was used by a woman of means...

A Fine and genuine SONG Period, SAWANGKALOKE-SISACHANALAI, SIAMESE-THAI CELADON JARLET, 14-15th Century, with 2 intact shoulder loops. It also has incised ringed ribbing towards the top. The foot remains unglazed. Good condition, no chips, no cracks, no hairlines, nor restorations/repairs. Size:height ~11 cm x width 9 cm (~ 4.5" x 3.25").

A nice study lot of 5 stamp seals in different kind of stones incl. serpentine and marple, made in semi-autonomous Neo-Hittite states of Syria and Levante, during the Neo-Assyrian period, early 1st. millenium BC.

The seals mostly of the tall pyramid shape, but there's also a double-side rectangular seal. The bases and sides engraved with crosses and other symbols.

Size: Up to 17 mm. max height...

A nice larger stone seal, Middle Assyrian Empire, 1363-912 BC.

The seal is carved in a jet black stone, and depicts a crowded array of a human, animals and symbols, (bad roll-out, the seal is sharper).

Size: 28-29 mm. tall and 14 mm. thick.

Condition: VF, intact with fine patination and micro deposits.

Ex. German Private Collection

This pair is part of a collection we are posting on the site. These are often misidentified as crossbow arrow ends. However, to our knowledge no such items have ever been found associated with crossbow bolts. These particular pieces went over the ends of the wooden ribs in large parasols. The protruding hooks put tension on the strings or straps that were attached to the skin of the parasol...

This traditional antique Chinese childs top was made using a fine, deep royal blue damask silk with black silk trim. From a wealthy family, this top was padded for winter use, has all the original frog and monkey fist knot closures, and a hand embroidered rondel with lots of couching and seed stitches (aka forbidden stitch)

A fascinating and exceedingly rare bronze stamp seal of the Hephthalites or the Whine Huns as they're also known. Hunic Empire of the Hindu Kush, 4th.-6th. century AD.

The seal is of an advanced form with a tall handle ending in an oval loop. The plate is oval and engraved with a fine depiction of a parading horse.

Size: 17 x 16 mm...

Late 1800s

The pendant is formed from sheet silver with a repousse design of a man riding a fu lion amid a floral background on one side and the other side with Chinese characters surrounded by flowers. The work is very well-executed in high relief and minute detail. The chain is fashioned from round soldered links suspended from which there are two bells on smaller chains...

This Antique woven basket was typical of the baskets used in the kitchens of Hunan Province China. This particular style would have been used for rice storage...The red and black lacquer design is painted on all 4 sides. the interior is painted black lacquer. Condition is good considering age and usage of basket as a utilitarian item ..a few nicks and chips in the paint. 12 inches in diameter across the top. 9 inches high plus another 2 inches for the handles...

This pair is part of a collection we are posting on the site. These are often misidentified as crossbow arrow ends. However, to our knowledge no such items have ever been found associated with crossbow bolts. These particular pieces went over the ends of the wooden ribs in large parasols. The protruding hooks put tension on the strings or straps that were attached to the skin of the parasol. This is a matched pair that is attributed to the Warring States period (475-221 BC). Both pieces have a s...

A large and very beautiful cloudy Chalcedony stamp seal, Neo-babylonian period of Mesopotamia, 9th.-7th. century BC. A large and very beautiful cloudy Chalcedony stamp seal, Neo-babylonian period of Mesopotamia, 9th.-7th. century BC.

Pyramidal shape. Decorated with a stylized image, hole through the top.

Very nice stone quality.

Size: ca. 36-37 mm.

Ex. German Private Collection

A finely grooved and scarce Danish macehead in granite, Single Grave period, 3rd. millenium BC.

The artifact is polished to a symethric compressed oval form with a deep groove in the center. These were made by the singlegrave culture and was used as a weapon alongside the battle axes from this culture.

Size: 83 mm. tall.

Condition: Choice, with fine patina and undamaged.

Ex. Private Collection.

*** This item comes with a standard export lice...

Interesting and very large early stamp seal in serpentine stone, dating to the late neolithic period of Western Mesopotamia, c. 6th. mill. BC.

Finding place: Ebene at the Orontes.

The rectangular seal carved with a grit-pattern and with medium tall ridged and pierced handle on the back.

Size: 38 mm. long andd 24 mm. wide, 18 mm. tall.

Condition: Nice Very fine, some chipping to the rim at one side and wear to the base, but attractive with a fine imprin...

This is a remarkably well preserved black pottery vessel from the early Khmer culture. It dates to at least 600AD and is possibly much older. It is roughly 19 cm tall. It shows no signs of repair or restoration. There are traces of root fibers on parts of the surface and what looks like calcification on the surface of the base. This is a great opportunity to own a rare piece of Ancient Asia at a terrific price.

Attractive oval stamp seal, almost the shape of a scaraboid but much older belonging to the Uruk period of North-Western Mesopotamia, c. 4th. mill. BC.

The seal engraved with an interesting motif of integrated animals (see Id card for a description.

Size: 25 mm. long and 19 mm. wide.

Condition: Good Very fine.

Added to the Oberländer collection in 1994. Comes with original ID card from the Oberländer collection and imprint!

Provenance: Gus...

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.

This stencil is approximately 9" by 9" and has some calligraphy ...

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.

Wonderful birdhead-shaped stamp seal in a glossy green hardstone (rare!), Syro-Levantine part of Mesopotamia, probably 5th. mill. BC.

A pre-historic / Neolithic seal carved with a fine grit pattern in the base, the form of the seal itself as a stylized birds head.

Size: 28 mm. wide and 18 mm. tall.

Condition: Good Very fine, small ancient scuff.

Added to the Oberländer collection in 1994. Comes with original ID card from the Oberländer collection an...

22 inches long and a century of hard use but the tip is clean and sharp. I suspect a skilled carpenter could still use this old Chinese drill to build a cabinet or post and beam house. Personally, I am so thankful for electrical tools.

By the latter part of the 19th century the ruling Qings were obsessed with every last detail of dress. This antique top grain leather fan case could only have been owned by very wealthy Chinese woman.

Unusual early 19th century Japanese cloisonne kogo (covered box for incense during tea ceremony) made in a shape of a clam shell and decorated with various flowers on the background of scrolling vines. Rims are silvered (some wear), white enamel background on the outside, blue enamel on the inside. Very pleasant finish with original pitting, rare and early object in terms of Japanese cloisonné, from the period of transition from Chinese to Japanese style. Great piece in Japanese taste. Length 3...

This old Chinese container would have been used by a poor farmer or fisherman to carry his lunch, and tea while he was off working for the day. The main container has 2 sections and there is an additional rimmed tray which fits just inside below the tightly fitted lid. All 3 pieces are made from very tightly woven from 2 different types of plant materials.

Roughly 9 inches x 9 inches x 4 inches, with a richly patinated surface, this container is a wonderful ethnographic artifact from anot...

This well used pair of Chinese woman's Lotus shoes for bound feet has embroidered satin stitch floral motif on both sides of the toe. The soles have nice stitch detail

Pre Columbian Volcanic stone foot offering effigy , small red brown stone carved as a left foot the top has a face carved with teeth . We believe this to be either Tairona due to the face or Costa Rican because they did make appendage offering pieces in stone. Wonderful tiny sculpture . Size L 3" W just under 1.5"

This small purse was made by Miao girl to be given to "boyfriend"...If he accepts and wears the purse on his belt...he favors her. The embroidery stitch is called Daiz but westerners know it as Peking knot aka forbidden stitch. 5.5 x 3 excellant condition

This charming old Chinese headband was handmade for a small child sometime in the late Qing dynasty. It is one of the nicest animal headbands that I have seen, and it is in good condition. The cat's face would have been worn at the child's forehead and is 3 dimensional. Made with silk fabric, with silk thread for the elaborately embroidery, the face is complete with ears that flap, and side paws. Opened at the back seam for easy framing, it can easily be re-sewn to fit display stand.

A very well painted and delightful Kutani tea caddy, perfect condition and has its original inner cap lid still intact also in perfect condition. It measures 11 cm (4.3 inches) high and dates pre-1920, circa 1912-15.

Late 19th century Japanese cloisonne kogo (covered box for incense during tea ceremony) decorated on top with butterflies and various flowers, and bottom with central chrysanthemum and scrolling branches with leaves. Great detailed work, gilding to all exposed metal including wires (some wear). Wonderful piece in Japanese taste. Diameter 2.58 inches, height 0.77 inches.

Circa 1850 small underglaze blue Chinese jar (see 2nd photo for size) with original lid. Photos do not do this jar justice. We guarantee you will not be disappointed. In excellent condition, this little treasure measures 2.75" high including finial and 2.5" diameter.

Late 1800s

This Satsuma ware tea caddy is made in the shape of a lacquer natsume tea caddy for use in the tea ceremony as a container for powdered green tea. This shape is given this name because it resembles a natsume plum. It is glazed overall with a finely crackled clear glaze showing the buff-colored clay body beneath. Overglaze enamels decorate the top and sides with open and closed fan designs. The interiors of both the lid and container are glazed as is also the base. The base is sl...

A pair of Arita dishes moulded in Ko Sometsuke Kraak style decorated with a pair of scholars playing Go, one of the four accomplishments of the Chinese gentleman scholar. In which the first of the pair of figures is parodied in mitate style one of whom has a board on his head and one presumes losing opponent has a miserable expression. A short eight character poem is incorporated in the design, but is probably unrelated to the figures, reflecting the contemporary popularity of haigu combinatio...

A blue and white bowl, decorated to exterior with horses running to upper part section, the interior center with a medallion surrounded by three fishes on cavetto sides. Ming dynasty 17th century Zhangzhou ware. Condition is very good, no any chip, no crack and free from restoration excepted slight warped. Diameter: 13.5cm.

Two unmounted vintage albumen photographs dating from the 1880's. One depicting a mansion probably in Mandalay, the second showing a group of young Burmese monks returning to their monastery after begging their daily food, by the Italian photographer Felice Beato (1832-1909). Condition: faded and wavy, one with a small stain. Dimension: 19.6 cm x 26.4 cm, 19.9 cm x 25.9 cm.

Ensemble of Qing Dynasty three matched lacquered panels depicting classic Chinese scenes. May be displayed individually or as a triptych. 1# Charming Qing Dynasty lacquered wood panel depicting a mother and child (we’re assuming a son) being presented to the father. Lifelike representation of people beneath clouds and willow trees. H: 27.5cm/10.8in and W: 20cm/7.9in…. 2# Nice Qing Dynasty lacquered wood panel depicting gentleman meeting on a bridge under a pine tree and willow-sig...

Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Porcelain Bowl - Birds

This attractive blue & white porcelain bowl was made during the latter part of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). The underglaze blue decoration around the outer wall depicts a varied landscape that includes a bird (stork) in flight, a bird sitting in a tree in blossom and a winged insect. The inside of the bowl is decorated with a blossoming flower.

Diameter 10.5 cm. Although there is no repair or restoration, there is a tiny chip...

Furoshiki made of handspun cotton and natural brown dye. It has family crest and katazome asanoha (hemp leaf) and check design. Generally, in good condition but it has some brown color faded parts. It has brown cotton belt for hangong in the back. 19th century. 128cm x 132cm

This is an ancient Etruscan Impasto Jug with double handles, c. 650 BC. It has a few old chips from use but is otherwise intact. It is 5" tall x 4.25" wide (12.5 cm x 11 cm)and is from an old Dutch collection, possibly from Latium. A ribbed and pleasing shape.