The groups of Yao minority live in in both China and Thailand. This necklace is of low grade silver which was typical of the Chinese jewelry around the late 1800's and early 1900's. The necklace is light weight and comfortable to wear...

This vamps of this lovely pair of Chinese Lotus shoes, aka bound feet shoes, are embroidered all around with butterflies and flowers. The soles are covered with fabric and leather...the heels are covered with leather which is nailed into place to call attention to the wearers movements when walking. Very condition ... one small rip in fabric at the back of one heel. Measures barely 4 inches...

Using stuffed folded fabric on paper backing to form decorative doll type figures was a highly prized art form in old Chinese culture. This large figure of a noble woman riding a donkey is a now rare example of that art form made during the late 19th and very early 20th century. Wonderfully detailed, she has an embroidered bat as a hair ornament and wears a tiny lotus shoe on her foot which is fitted into a stirrup...

This Chinese pinafore style garment would have been worn by a small girl child of the Dong ethnic minority in Shui Kou. Fabric is handwoven from cotton fiber, hand stitched with intricate decorative applique work and hand woven snowflake pattern ribbon accents the border. No rips, no tears, and no holes...but this piece is old and has been worn and is a bit "dirty".... and still has its original ties. It is 14 inches wide and 21 inches long...great ethnographic textile for framing...

Originally, this was the largest of a set of 3 graduated matching silver necklaces. They were worn as a set for festival by the Miao Chinese Ethnic Minority women. The necklace was skillfully hand-formed from a sheet of silver into a curving tapered tube with a reposse pattern of 2 dragons chasing pearl. It spans 10.5 inches across...

This toddler's pants were used by successive siblings and probably several generations of Chinese Miao ethnic minority children. The pants are of handwoven indigo dyed fabric and the legs are decorated with handwoven tape which is sewn into place by hand...

Sourced from an old estate, this pair of lotus shoes came with a hand written tag/label sewn to the back of one heel and a red paper the shape of the inner sole place inside on of the shoes. The paper is at the point flaking and disintegrating and the writing is in old Chinese and no longer readable. Because of the "tag and label, I suspect that these shoes were presented as a "gift" to a Western missionary, teacher or friend...

This antique copper gau would have been kept in a prayer niche in the home and would be worn as an ornament for festival. In place of the Tsatsa (clay figure), there is a Tsakli. It was common practice to use a tsakli (small picture card) to represent the religious item which would be placed in the gau, when time and money became available. The original written talisman remains inside the gau also...

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 hand woven traditional childs top was worn by the children of China's Yi ethnic minority group living in Ma Li Po...

This is an old Chinese inkstone has hand carved ox with head turned toward the natural "dragon's eye" moon. There are some chips along the edges of the ink stone and areas of natural inclusions...

This traditional embroidered vest was made and worn by the woman of the Miao minority culture living in the Ge Jia region of China generations ago. The textile fabric was hand woven with a specific thread count to allow for the geometric embroidery pattern which was added later. ...

This old Chinese Miao ethnic minority child's hat is thickly padded for winter wearing. The red silk fabric with silk thread satin stitch embroidery really stands out. One silver butterfly ornament decorates the back of the hat and provides noise to protect the child from evil spirits. a bit dirty but hat is in very good condition. ...

This traditional Han child's silk hat is wonderfully embroidered with floral scenes around the brim, butterflies and birds around the sections of the crown, while tassels accentuate the upturned morterboard. The long draped wind protector section at the back shows fade line...otherwise the hat is in excellant condition. ...

Antique Chinese Miao Ethnic Minority wrap belt used home spun yarn, hand dyed and woven. It is over 100 years old. Rare piece. Approx 152 inches long not including fringe and 3 inches. It is in good condition, has obviously been worn (used) and is a bit dirty in some areas. This is a rare piece and looks really good draped back and forth in a clump. ...