Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art (482)

The quilted lower portion of the vamp indicates that this pair of shoes are from northern China, and the shape of the heel dates them to before 1910. Clearly somewhat used, they are a wonderful artifact of a time and cultural practice from the past.

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...

This pair of black silk lotus shoes date to the late Qing Dynasty. Back then, a woman's job was to make shoes for the members of her family. This woman was from a financially comfortable family with servants to do other household chores. Making this pair for herself, she choose a black silk satin fabric for the vamp and made an elegantly sloping sole which would accommodate separate inter changeable heels to be attached...

This charming footed small teapot has handle wrapped with bamboo and is etched all over with a floral design...no signature of any kind...

This Japanese tray is 12.5 inches wide and 7.25 inches tall...It is lovely ...Meiji period wireless cloisonne tray depicting birds and flowers in the central field with wide scalloped border picturing Phoenix bird at the top center, a lizard on the right and another bird on the left...really and exceptional piece...the front in in excellant condition. The underside appears to have been over-painted

Coffee pots like this were used across northern Africa from Morocco to Saudi Arabia. These "Dallah" coffee pots would have been used to make the traditional Qawha and Khaleeji coffees. This coffee pot is from late 1800's early 1900. Price is commensurate with condition....It has had several repairs and is so heavily tarnished that I cannot identify the actual metal...I assume it is some mix of copper and some alloy which would be typical for its age. The handle is cast bronze/alloy

This antique pair of earrings are from the Miao Chinese Ethnic minority. For me the shape and thick "wires" add to the design of the earring...some groups of the Miao purposely expanded the size of the ear lobe holes to accomadate... I prefer to keep things in their original condition. I have used these in my "favorites" display case... the earring spann 2 inches x 2 inches x .5 inches. Assumbed to be low grade silver which was typically used in old China...

The black stone tile has mosaic inlay of mother of pearl Taj Mahal detailed with black pen ink lines. This Anglo Indian Victorian piece from the Raj era would have come from the Visagapatam region of India, which was known for its finely detailed black pen ink designs.

Pristine condition and very beautiful. Measured top to bottom and side to side 6 inches each way...measured point to point 6.5 inches

Woven from wide bamboo strips, this lidded container was used for storing tobacco. Basket weaving was a traditional folk art throughout southeast Asia and most rural families relied on their own basketry skills to provide themselves with life's necessities.

This slightly miss-shaped container stands 8 inches tall and has the charm and patina which comes only with repeated use and age.

In China, collars where made separately from the robe or garment. As such, the so-called cloud collars were used much like a necklace, allowing a single collar to be worn over various robes. This is a traditional Han Chinese style collar dates to the Qing dynasty period. The background fabric is white silk, bordered with black rolled trim. The collar is very finely embroidered with silk thread using predominately the satin embroidery stitch...

This intricate floral embroidery panel may have been part of a larger piece which probably predates the carved frame that now houses the panel. The background silk is a rich dark brown and the ornate floral display can be positioned either horizontally or vertically. During the framing process, sometime between 1900-1920, The fragment was glued to a cardboard backing...where it remains today... 10.5 inches x 23 inches includes frame

This set of 3 dolls court dolls are each mounted on their original matching stands. Wonderful carved wooden faces with gofun finish. The hands and feet are also carved from wood. A charming set...each doll with the stand is about 6 inches tall.

This small antique Chinese wooden storage container was used for calligraphy implements. Inksticks would have been held in the rear center compartment. Calligraphy brushes would have been held upright on the right and left side compartments. Seals or chops would have been stored in the lidded section. Originally painted with black lacquer, this piece has great age and wear patina.

This pair of traditional short boots were made and worn by the Miao women of Anshun. They are in very good condition but the upper boot areas have some soiling and the soles show signs of wear.

Set of 3 Meiji Kanzashi, Japanese hair pin sticks, have deep black lacquer background with ornate swirls of red and black lacquer and inlays of abalone shells. 1 stick is 9 inches long 2 sticks are 7.75 inches long

Nice old traditional Chinese opium scale with travel case. The measuring stick is ivory and marked to indicate weights. Approximately 13 inches long, this piece is obviously old and shows signs of use but is in good condition.

A properly dressed Chinese woman would wear a pair of leggings to cover her lower legs from the bottom of her skirt to the top of her lotus shoes. The leggings would be tied into place with a hand woven sash made specifically for that purpose. These lotus shoe accessories are now rare and very hard to find. See my listing TC236 and ZTC233. This pair of leggings are purple satin weave fabric with ribbon and silk embroidered trim at the cuffs. There is some ares of fade on the basic fabric.

Many Chinese would "grind" a day's supply of ink in advance and store the liquid ink in a metal "inkbox". According to the calligraphy on the top of this inkbox, it was a gift in the year of the goat, to a medical inspector upon completion of his 3rd year of work in Yuncheng city, Shanxi province. The inkbox is 3 inches in diameter and has an dried ink in the bottom and a built in inkstone inside the lid.