Catalog (47)

This is a traditional Chinese pack saddle which were used throughout China for carrying various sacks of grains and goods. The front is carved foo dogs and there is a key carved decoration around the border. It is unusual to find this type saddle with the painted black lacquered finish. This one was probably owned by a wealthy family and used only for special events. The finish is worn off as the straps from the packs and sacks have worn off the finish across the areas where they would have ...

This is a unique Chinese Trousse. The chopsticks are black wood, presumed to be Zitan and are totally enclosed inside the scabbard when the trousse is closed. Both the scabbard and knife handle are covered with tortoise shell and have silver fittings.

The Tibetan leather flint pouch (aka strike a light) is properly known as a "mechag" (me = fire , chag = iron) or fire iron. This Tibetan flint pouch is decorated with ornate silver and bronze ornamentation with an inset red bead which appears to be a replacement for the original bead. The pouch would have been secured to the wears belt with the attached leather strap.

This is large strike a light ...the strike plate spans 6.5 inches and the purse including handle is 5 inches high...an wide...

This old Mongolian artifact was made from leather hides sewn together with leather cord and then formed into a servicable shape approximating an irregular bottle. Handling and pouring was aided by the wooden handles.

A folk art object approx 150 years old and used for many years as a sake container saki. It is approx 19 inches high and 16 inches at the widest point about 10 inches deep.

This old set of pygmy quiver and arrows have seen a lot of use. When hunting, the leather quiver would have been worn high on the back. The cap comes off easily and the upper portion of the quiver is bent to allow easy access to the arrows. The metal tips of the 5 arrows are worn and broken with only 1 showing its original shape and barbs. Each arrow has a plant binding around the end with a notch for the bow string. This rare set is a true ethnographic artifact of the African pygmy hunting ...

Made of iron, this antique Japanese mobile candle stand, known as a teshoku, dates from the Edo period. So typical of the old Japanese ethnographic objects, the design of this single candle holder is totally simple and wonderfully functional. With a lighted candle, this candlestand could be easily carried about the house by use of long very gently curved handle. When set in down, the placement of the 3 legs makes it very stable to minimize chances of it being accidentally knocked over. It is...

According to many Indians, this old juicer would also doubled as a pasta maker. With the carved animal heads on each side, and great aged patina, it makes an interesting sculptural artifact of India's culture.

Measures 12 high, 10 inches wide and 6 inches deep.

In old China, a carpenter's tools were also considered as an symbol of the quality of his craftsmanship. This antique carpenter's tool has a hand carved dragon with some of the original paint remaining in the crevasses. The plumb bob is made from a section of animal antler. The old Chinese carpenter would fill the bowl with charcoal and it would be used to snap a straight line.

modern day items of this are still used by carpenters worldwide but they are made of metal or plastic and filled w...

The front of this Tibetan Flint Pouch is decorated with silver and bronze ornamentation and an inset coral bead. The back is decorated with bronze buttons to protect the leather from excessive wear. The pouch still has its original leather strap which would have been used to secure the pouch to the wearers belt.

Flint was an essential and valuable item for nomadic and indigenous cultures and as such was frequently carries in pouch specifically designed for its use.

For women of indigenous cultures, sewing needles were often hard to come by and considered valuable tools. Commonly, among such groups, cases were specifically designed to protect and safeguard the sewing. This particular antique silver needle case is from the Chinese Miao ethnic minority group and would have been worn by the women as a decorative costume ornament during festival.

Though sourced from northern China, this antique powder flask is most likely Chinese ethnic minority from the southern regions. There are 3 flasks for carrying gun powder. Used rifle cartridges are used both as stoppers and bullets are held in the shaped spacers between the powder flasks. It was made by shaping and then sewing 2 pieces of heavy leather (probably elephant hide)together.

This old Chinese container would have been used by a poor farmer or fisherman to carry his lunch, and tea while he was off working for the day. The main container has 2 sections and there is an additional rimmed tray which fits just inside below the tightly fitted lid. All 3 pieces are made from very tightly woven from 2 different types of plant materials.

Roughly 9 inches x 9 inches x 4 inches, with a richly patinated surface, this container is a wonderful ethnographic artifact from anot...

22 inches long and a century of hard use but the tip is clean and sharp. I suspect a skilled carpenter could still use this old Chinese drill to build a cabinet or post and beam house. Personally, I am so thankful for electrical tools.

This antique Chinese lock has a nicely patinated surface and is is working order. Measures 3.8 inches across.

Delicately carved with a floral motif, is horn was used to give domestic animals medicine. It is Chinese ethnic minority probably from Inner Mongolia. Horn is about 6" long and has small chip at the end of the bowl. It is a wonderful ethnographic piece for the tribal arts collector

This antique Chinese hand carved wooden bobbin still has a length of home spun thread which winds around the middle. The bobbin shows extensive use, with some areas of paint and finish heavily patinated and other areas just worn away.

During the Qing Dynasty, hair combs like this were commonly used. The structure is bone and the tines are of wood. A few tines have gone missing with age and use. The comb is about 5 inches x 2 inches.

This old Chinese ethnic minority needle case is hand carved with geometric marking from end to end. Needle cases were essential tools for all indigenous cultures and frequently became important objects of decorated folk art.

These 3 bobbins aka thread holders would have been used in China when hand sewing was the major activity of the women of the house. Each bobbin was individually carved and each has a small ball which moves freely within the carved slot. Either individually or as a group, they are nice ethnographic artifacts of the Chinese culture during the Qing dynasty.

This homemade Japanese tool was used in rural areas for cutting the groove in the tree to release and collect the sap which was harvested for the lacquerware. The wood handle is smooth to touch and has years of patina. The cutting blade is heavily aged but is in good condition. The tool is about 9" long and at least 150 years old.

This antique pair of wooden spoons were hand carved and delicately shaped. The handles are deeply arched and the ends are painted with a gilded paint. They were heavily covered with a clear lacquer finish.

This Chinese hair comb was hand carved from a beautifully "grained" translucent animal horn. Obtained from an ethnic minority person, the pair of ducks carved into the handle were commonly used by mainstream Han Chinese as a symbol of a long and happy marriage. Items with this symbol would often be gifted for an anniversary.

These 6 antique Chinese needlework implements were brought to the US by the American Baptist missionary Rebecca Cloud-Stewart. They range in size from 3-6 inches long...

This is a charming one-of-a-kind hand-carved box. It has a crudely carved dog on top with wooden hinge that swings open. There are side openings for striker strip.

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 traditional Chinese spoon was used for spooning out powdered herbs and other ingredients when mixing Chinese medicines. The spoon is bone, patinated with age and use. The spoon is 4.75 inches long... It is a nice ethnographic artifact of former time and place

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.

The body of this antique Miao Chinese powder horn is carved with large spider web, small foo dogs, and clouds. The stopper is carved into a lotus blossom. The Miao believe that passed relatives take the form of spiders to visit and watch family members, so spider webs are left undisturbed in the home. This horn is from Kali area and is in excellent condition. It is 80-90 years old and approx 9" long.

This is an antique Chinese set of carved bone dominoes, complete with dice and original wooden box. Carved by hand sometime in the Qing dynasty, the 32 dominos vary abit in shape, size and thickness and the bone dice are a bit off cube.

The box is just under 5 inches x 2.5 inches x 1.5 inches.

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. The age estimate on this is very conservative...this is a rare artifact and possibly much older than liste...

This unusual hat stand is made of 2 very thin interlocking pieces which were black lacquered and painted with a floral and peach motif.

An artifact of past Chinese Culture, this old Abacus has hand made beads of what appears to be clay, specifically stoneware. The frame is a dark hardwood, probably walnut. It is approx 5 long.

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.

These early Qing dynasty cups were carved from coconut shell, and lined with metal which was originally coated with silver. The Chinese believed that silver would tarnish when in contact with poison. Many wealthy Chinese liked to use silver lined cups and chopsticks tipped with silver fittings was an assurance against poisoning. There are 6 cups in all but each has a slightly different carving and they being sold separately with each to be pictured under this one listing.

They are all in...

This Korean antique is a hand carved woodblock which would have been used to print a repeating decorative design pattern onto a textile. It is very old, and well worn with great patina.

This old Chinese hand made carpenters tool would have been used as a snapline just as the western metal chalk box and line are used today. Such tools were often hand made and passed from father to son for generations. This particular one has a small antler for a plumbob.