Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian (459)

This charming pair of old Chinese lotus shoes were made from a sturdy cotton fabric and embroidered with cotton thread. The lack of silk matterials would indicate that the maker/wearer was probably from a less afluent family. The soles indicate are well worn but the vamps are in very good condition.

This short sword and matching scabbard from Bhutan is elaborately decorated. The knife handle or sword hilt has a leather cover which is detail with silver reposse and a coral bead. The wooden scabbard is covered with leather and is decorated with an elaborate silver reposse dragon. The knife blade is has a series of added symbols. The belt loop is also decorated with a series of silver objects...

This is a page from the rare Burmese Buddhist Sutra manuscript called the the KAMMAVACA. The pages of these religious sutras were made from a thin strip of bamboo covered with cloth (frequently monks robes) which was thickly coated with red lacquer and gold leaf decoration. Lacquer from tamarind seed was used for the square black lettered text which is in the now extinct Burmese religious script of Pali...

According to my Miao friends, these coin purses were often made by a girl as a gift to a prospective boyfriend...and depending on where and how he wore the purse, it would indicate his feeling for her... they can be sold separately or in multiples 1 piece  $175 plus shipping  2 pieces $325 plus shipping 3 pieces $450 plus shipping 4 pieces $525 plus shipping

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...

This open hanging letter box is covered with beautifully detailed scenes painted in shades of gold on black lacquer. Late 1800's ...small chip at edge of scallop top right side ( last pic)

Rare Chinese form, this Chinese chalice is from the late Qing Dynasty period. The dome shaped lid is topped with a gold finial. The surface of the piece is covered with cloisonne pattern. There is a floral design in black and brown which is offset against a background filled with a fretwork pattern. The chalice with its matching lid stands 9 inches tall.

The metal bottom of the chalice is stamped with the word China. This dates the piece between 1890 and 1914. It was the U.S...

this old set of books was originally held together into a single volume with a cover.. The cover is now clearly falling apart and the books are all tied together with a leather cord probably done sometime in the 50's. Each volume covers a different aspect of law...civil, criminal etc... There is a very faded red seal on the front page...the photo of the seal has been enhanced to hopefully make it more readable... Lots of Chinese characters used throughout the text...

There are a total of eight signs, each with a different "saying" having to do with well wishes. Due to the age of the calligraphy, and the vagueres of the old Chinese language, accurate translations have not been possible for each sign. Each sign is carved out of wood with raised wooden characters and inlayed with MOP flakes. Each is 21 inches tall and roughly 4.5 inches wide. I have listed them separately, to allow for pictures of each

In some regions of China, women made separate pairs of heels for their lotus shoes. That way, the heels could be worn with different pairs of lotus shoes, depending on the occasion, or mood. The heels had loops for straps which were used to tie the heels into place on the shoe...

This old Japanese hand made sack (basket,bag) was made by a rural farmer or fisherman out of cotton cording. Handle holes were worked into the upper band which would have allowed for the changing of worn out handles. There is obvious wear and fading from use and age. The bag measures almost 11 x 15 inches It is Wonderful old ethnographic example of rural Japanese textile folk art

This round inkstone was carved out of a naturally occurring layered stone...both the bottom and cover viewed from the side show the striation of the stone.The covered has a pond design etched with raised koi fish. It is really lovely. The inkstone is just over 4 inches in diameter and .8 inches in height.

This large Chinese scale has metal balance beams and shallow metal bowls. The scale fits into an ornately carved red and black lacquer wooden case which is slightly domed and has its original copper band closure. There is some wood chip loss around what was the hole for the string which allowed the case to be hung up for storage. Dating from the 1800's the braided cords which attach the shallow bowls to the metal balance beam appear to be replacement cords...

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.

This antique small iron mortar fits easily into the closed hand was used for grinding medicinal herbs. The pestle is attached with a hand made chain. Sourced from Maharasha, India...great aged patina.

This old pair of Chinese shoes were made for a small child. Appliqued onto the red cotton background fabric are bits of trim and cotton fabric which give the appearance of a cats face. Gold thread is used in a couching embroidery stitch for the design on the both sides of each shoe.

Beautifully carved high quality inkstone with grinding surface and deep "inkwell". there is a tiny chip on right edge of the ink stone...see photo for scale measures roughly 6 x 3.5 x .9 inches

This antique tea caddy still has some tea in it, but the tea is so old it cannot be identified by smell. I would not try using it. The bamboo veneer is carved on each of the 6 sides, some scenes and some calligraphy. The calligraphy is old Chinese so translation is...not easily possible.