From the mid to late 1800's, each piece of this matched pair of antique Chinese Kingfisher Feather ornaments are 5 inches across. Some small bits of thread still cling to the original metal loops which would have been used to sew these ornaments to an article of clothing. The earliest of kingfisher ornaments were made of using a hollow papier mache form and covered with a cardboard/paper at the back. These pieces typically used large fully feathered spaces in the design...

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.

This is a very nicely carved old traditional Tibetan ritual Phurba and it is a bit worn from use. The Phurba was brought back to the US in the 60's by a man who had taken a year off and gone trekking about from Turkey across to Nepal.

The Phurba is a special triple sided Tibetan ritual stake, which originated as a stake that tethered sacrifical animals...

This large Tea Caddy is made from a hollow Bamboo section. The cannister lid fits tightly in order to keep the tea fresh. This style caddy would have been used by a Chinese family of modest circumstances during the Qing Dynasty.

Great patina, darkened with age...a handsome piece that stands 10 inches high and 4 inches in diameter.

This elaborate headdress (crown)would originally be on a Japanese Hina style Girls Day empress doll from the Edo period (pre Meiji). Mixed metals with coral accents and original silk cord and tassels, 5 inches high

Originally part of a full sized Tibetan adult costume, this piece was cut down to complete a childs festival costume. Decorated with turquoise, coins, tassels and silver ornaments, this type of textile accessory would often be attached to the elaborate headdress or hat and drape down the back to complete the wearers costume. The Tibetan people are not wastefull and items of festival garments in any condition are hard to acquire. I have had it hanging on my wall for a number of years...

I call him sweet face...a bit dirty with age... Japanese hina aka girls day doll from late Edo period. lost his drum..6inches high including hat

This Chinese carved bamboo brush rest has traditional dragons chasing pearl and cloud motif. The background shape is the 5 mountains and the rim of the mountains have carved ridges. The piece measures 3.5 inches high and 6 inches across. The natural curve of the bamboo allows the piece to stay upright, and the piece remains balanced on the 1/2 inch thick bamboo. Condition is very good.

A Chinese doctor would use this stoneware clay pillow to support the wrist while taking the pulse of a patient.

The pillow was made using slab construction and all the surfaces are decorated with a star pattern and covered with a traditional glaze. There is a tiny vent hole on the bottom to facilitate firing. It measures 4.5x3 x 1.5 inches and is covered with traditional green glaze...

These antique iron stirrups probably belonged to a low level horse soldier of the Chinese army during the Qing dynasty. They are well patinated.

This antique iron candle holder was sourced from Shanxi province China. From a peasants home, it could be set on a table or hung on a wall. It is an interesting ethnographic folk art relic.

This Ethnic Minority festival necklace is from one of the Miao villages in the mountains outside the city of Tia Jiang. The neckpiece is formed from a hollow silver tube aprox. .5 inches in diameter. The hollow medallion is .5 inches thick. The necklace can be worn comfortably. The silver medallion has elaborate reposse work with an array of symbols of Miao culture and legend. There is a pair of Phoenix birds flying above a pair of dragons who are chasing a fiery pearl enclosing a frog...