This charming antique purse from Tibet was hand-made to be worn hanging from a waist belt. Lacking ornamentation, is was probably a daily use item to hold coins. A simple endless knot toggle is used for closure. The purse is 3.5 inches at the widest point.
Many of my Tibetan items are "categorized" as Chinese. Most westerners think of Tibetan's as being within the boundary of the current borders o ...click for details
From Yunnan Province, this minority hand woven open container has wonderful age and patina.
The wife said it was used at family dinners for pouring wine, the husband said used for pouring tea. I just smiled and nodded in agreement.
The piece was obviously woven tight enough to contain liquid. There is a small piece of bamboo inserted into the basket spout which aids in controlling the flow. Condition is very good and the piece measures 8" x 5" high.
The use of chopstick holders was common throughout China. The style varied from region to region. This particular chopstick container was from the Northern provinces, formerly Manchuria. It was hand turned and is slightly out of round and in years past, the lip may have been nimbled by a rodent. It is a definately an object in the tradition of Chinese folk art.
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.
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This old Chinese ethnic minority needle case is hand carved with geometric marking from end to end. Needle cases were essential tools for all indigenous cultures and frequently became important objects of decorated folk art.
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.
The Chinese have kept crickets for many centuries. Unlike most cricket cases, this elegantly made rosewood cricket cage would have given the family pet lots of air and easy viewing.
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.
The front of this Tibetan Flint Pouch is decorated with silver and bronze ornamentation and an inset coral bead. The back is decorated with bronze buttons to protect the leather from excessive wear. The pouch still has its original leather strap which would have been used to secure the pouch to the wearers belt.
Flint was an essential and valuable item for nomadic and indigenous cultures and as such was frequently ...click for details
This old Mongolian artifact was made from leather hides sewn together with leather cord and then formed into a servicable shape approximating an irregular bottle. Handling and pouring was aided by the wooden handles.
A folk art object approx 150 years old and used for many years as a sake container saki. It is approx 19 inches high and 16 inches at the widest point about 10 inches deep.
