Catalog (344)

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 is one of 2 hexagonal shaped tea cannisters which I have listed separately. This one has an incised scene of a mature bird on one side. The other side has 2 sentences from the famous Tang dynasty poem by Lu Tong. The bamboo has darkened considerably with age.

This cannister style caddy is from an estate in the US...Both the Chinese and Japanese used this shape tea cannister and Lu Tongs poems were also highly regarded in Japan, so it is possible the these tea caddies are Japanese in o...

Old Chinese hand carved wooden mask depicting legendary king of old China. Face was gessoed and polychrome painted. 15 inches x 14 inches wide and 6 inches deep. some areas of chipped and worn paint consistent with age

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. The stand adds anot...

Very fine small cloisonne tray dates to late 19th century Qing Dynasty. Made for export conforming with McKinley Tariff Act requirements 1890-1914..Tray has very ornate cloisonne enamel design Measures 3 inches x 3 inches x .7 inches high

These Chinese long wooden bobbins were used for winding thread for routine sewing chores. As a household tool, used by generations of women within the family, they were hand carved and painted with the continious use in mind. Inside each bobbin there is a small bead which freely moves back and forth and acts as a noise maker when the bobbin is in motion...or falling to the floor.

This Tibetan talisman has a sealed leather herb bag hanging on each side of a small bronze sitting Buddha which is also displayed in a leather casing. The Buddha is depicted as holding a small bottle. All 3 pieces are hanging from a matching leather strap so that it could be worn around the neck of the individual.

This traditional Chinese antique tea container was made from bamboo. The outside has a carved rib design. This tea caddy would have been used regularly by family and friends during the Qing dynasty. Some minimal loss of finished surface on top ...to be expected with age and use...9.5 inches high

This late Qing Dynasty hat is in excellent condition. Made with silk fabric with silk thread satin stitch embroidery on both front and back, it has long tassels on each side.

Nicely detailed winter well worn Lotus shoes complete with heal flaps and straps...

These were made by a doting Chinese grandmother in the early 1900's...Absolutely charming set of matching hat and shoes for young child with lots of intricate embroidery details. I will not break up this set....

Each band of this pair of very fine silk embroideries have 2 sets mirror images: one set of floral motif and the other set of a couple celebrating. Both sets use satin stitch, french knot (aka forbidden stitch) and couching embroidery techniques. The embroideries are on a background fabric of fine patterned silk which measures 6" by 15". The floral embroidery is 1.5 x 2" and the couple embroidery is 1.5 x 5". Because of the sizes of the fabric and the sizes and arrangement of the embroiderie...

Diameter approximately 2.75 inches, this antique chinese mirror may have originally had silvered surface on reflective side...brought to the US 1920-1930 by missionary Rebecca Cloud-Stewart..deterioration of metal surfaces as expected.

This Chinese doll was made with a wire body covered with fabric padding and then silk clothing. His heads, lower arms and feet are made from some kind of composition material and then painted. Because of his wire construction, his arms, legs, and body etc can be carefully repositioned. The feet are wired together to provide a more stable base...it is a theory which frankly does not always work well.

This doll is approx 10 inches tall in standing position and is wearing a "raincoat" ...

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.

Dr Fu Qing Zhu "published" his book on Women's Health Issues in 1816. Originally hand copied until the 1860's, publications after that were made using hand carved woodblocks. This particular copy appears to be from 1885. It has all 4 volumes and the original cloth binding cover. There are hand written prescriptions on the front of 2 volumes. The condition of this set reflects its age and useage.

Copies of this book have been used by traditional Chinese doctors from its first publication...

This antique cinnabar lidded jar vase form is surrounded with deeply carved garden landscape scenes with several men and woman including and older man and small child. The carved details of people, plants and house facades are all clear with no loses.

This cinnabar jar is in very good condition. It stands 6.5 inches and 6 inches wide. The word China is handwritten on the bottom, which indicates that the piece was made between 1890 and 1914.

A must have for any lotus shoe collector. This iron was used for pressing lotus shoes. The thin curved end was useful for getting into the toe area. Made of iron, it is somewhat rusty-i.e. pleasantly aged. Length tip to tip is 13"