Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian (459)

This elaborate antique embroidery panel is from Gujrat India and would have been used as a dowery quilt. It is backed with soft aged (now muted) cotton fabric, leaving a 4 inch border surrounding the embroidery. The gold and silver metallic threads are also somewhat subdued and blended giving the panel a soft and somewhat muted appearance which is very pleasing...

This is one of 4 small individual antique Chinese carvings which I am listing separately. I had always assumed them to be 4 of the eight immortals but upon close inspection, I am now not sure which gods, ancestors or legends they represent. Each character stands with its own faithful foo type dog and carries an implement of some kind. Each has a peg on the bottom which fits into the own homemade stand.

This character stands 5.75 inches x 3 inches wide and 1 inch thick...

During the late 1800's and early 1900's eyeglasses became an important accessory for the Chinese. Upon seeing eyeglasses on visiting Western dignitaries and businessmen, the Chinese perceived and admired these "spectacles" as age enhancing. Not only did the eyeglasses improve eyesight...but they added age and dignity to the face of the wearer. Equating age with wisdom and respect, many Chinese took up the custom of wearing eyeglasses...

This textile wallet would have been used to keep sewing supplies Each page is made from heavy hand paper, hand painted decoration and folded in such a way that numerous pockets and flaps are available for storage of small bits of fabric, snipes of thread, needles, etc. the outside of the wallet is covered with homespun fabric which now attests to the age and use of the piece. This wallet is from the Dong ethnic minority of China, and would have been passed down from one generation to another...

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

White Marble from China was referred to as Chinese Alabaster because of its grain and translucent quality. This small simple inkstone is both beautiful to see and to touch. There is a very worn rim surrounding the grinding surface and inkwell and 4 very worn feet on the bottom of the ink stone to raise it slightly off the surface.

This pair of matching fans came from an old wealthy collectors estate..along with several others. This pair is in pristine condition with dark wood handles (possible zitan wood) and fan section is basket type weave of unknown plant fiber, the silk tassels have gold bindings...

These antique Razors were brought back from China by the Baptist Missionary Rebecca Cloud Stewart. The blades are rusty but they are still sharp. One has a wood handle and the other has a horn handle.

This antique Chinese silk dragon court vest is couched with silk thread embroidery designs of dragons, birds, flowers, clouds etc. and accents of gold bouillion thread. Vest shows some minimal wear and is in overall good condition.

The vest dates to the mid 19th century and has a front rank badge with bird facing the wearers left shoulder. This indicates that the original owner was the wife of a civil official...

After hand-weaving their home spun yarn, the Miao women of Na Dan would use contrasting thread colors to create an intricate embroidery of geometric patterns on their precious baby carriers. These pieces were highly prized, used primarily for festival, and were handed down through succeeding generations.

The pouch at the top of the tassel most likely contains various herbs to bring health and good fortune to the baby...

This small hand carved wooden container would have been used to store smoking tobacco, and would have been worn hanging from a belt the same as a Japanese inro. Although similar types of containers would have used by both traditional Han Chinese and ethnic minority Chinese, this particular container is definately traditional Han Chinese. One side has a carved scene of a bird and branch, the other side has written characters...

This antique Chinese cribbage board has bone possibly ivory insets for scoring and additional small carved insets for added decoration on a wooden board richly carved with ornate fauna decoration...evidence of 4 legs (missing) on the underside of the board

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.

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 antique carved wooden temple Buddha retains much of his original gilded paint. He sits on a tall base covered with the old Mon Khmer script which had been formed by scratching through the golden paint. The Buddha's head is topped with a stupa-shaped "flame" called usnisa, which symbolizes the realization of Nirvana. Perhaps that explains the soft smile and meditative expression on his face...

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.

This old silk embroidery panel may have originally been part of a larger scene. the is light stain to the background above the riders head. the piece measures panel is approx 19 x 15 inches ...

This is the second of 4 small individual antique Chinese carvings which I am listing separately. I had always assumed them to be 4 of the eight immortals but upon close inspection, I am now not sure which gods, ancestors or legends they represent. Each character stands with its own faithful foo type dog and carries an implement of some kind. Each has a peg on the bottom which fits into the own homemade stand. This character stands 5.75 inches x 3 inches wide and 1 inch thick...