Catalog (603)

This elaborate beaded breastplate would have been worn for festivals by a wealthy Tibetan woman. The main section has 3 ornate silver and turquoise ornaments surrounded by a raised beaded coil which is bordered with cowrie shells. The neckline rolled and padded.

It is 13 inches across at the widest point and can be tied around the neck using the attached fabric ties. As is obvious in the pictures, there are a couple areas of lose on the turquoise ornaments.

This pair of Japanese dolls was gifted to America official who was sent to Japan to help reestablish tea industry after the war. wonderful condition: total display is 30 inches across, 10 inches deep and 14.5 inches high. The double platform is 4.5 inches of the total height.

All hand-sewn Eskimo doll probably made sometime during the 60's. She is dressed in nicely detailed fur parka with fox trimmed hood and has hand-painted facial features on leather face with fur hair She is 11 inches high and in good condition

This traditional antique basket purse was made and used by the men of the tiny island of Balika,Indonesia. The patina shows both the age and the wear pattern. This is one of a pair of "old purses" which were brought back to the US by an Anthropology intern who spent a summer studying and documenting the lives of the islanders in 1980. The condition is very good and the piece measures 16" high by 12" wide and 4"

Japanese Lady's Dressing Box Meiji Period. The front and lid are decorated with wood marquetry inlays.The doors have inlays of MOP and assorted stones depicting birds etc. Lots of drawers, original hardware..(sorry, no key) box is 17 x 14 x 7 inches. back and sides are painted black

This unusual Japanese lacquer clam shell is from Wakasa, a center for exceptional lacquer craftsmanship which began during the Edo period. At that time the lacquerers of the Obama clan, near Wakasa Bay, began decorating their work with designs depicting elements of the ocean floor, For techniques, the Wakasa craftsmen developed a process of repeated lacquer coatings of several colors and rubbing down the lacquer coated surface. This process produced a random decorative pattern. The clam shell s...

This Korean brush would have been used for painting and/or large calligraphy. The handle is an old horn of rich brown tones and a soft matte patina from use. The bristles are long and soft and show some ink residue close to the ferrule. It is a wonderful brush to hold

Beautiful old wooden Japanese serving tray with irises carved into the border. Meiji Period. 12" x 22"

This traditional Mexican Serape textile from the 1920's measures 64 x 84 inches. Fibers are cotton and fine wool with "eye of god". Excellent quality and condition.

This antique necklace consists of large bells alternating with (symbolic) lotus pods. The bells are roughly 1.5 inches long. Though it has a hook closure, it is long enough to slip over the head of the wearer...Really fun to wear but not to the opera. It is made of low grade silver which was commonly used by various tribal groups throughout Central Asian, and the Far East. The filigree work on the bells was most common to Northern India, Himalayas, Nepal.

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 lacquer serving tray from Burma now called Myanmar) depicts an elaborate palace garden scene populated with nobles in court costumes. The tray is 14.5 inches across. The top surface is somewhat dulled from age end exposure. There is one small area of lost which is irregular in shape, approximately 1/4inch and is locate on toward the rim of the platter and a second area of loss approx 1/8 inch at the widest and follows the curve border rim design for about 1 inch(see pics 2 and 3.

This traditional Mexican Serape textile from the 1920's measures 64 x 84 inches. Fibers are cotton and fine wool with "eye of god". Excellent quality and condition. really beautiful

Carved out of Bamboo this Buddha is 13.5 inches high,5 inches wide and 4 inches deep. He is a wonderfully carved example of folk art tradition with very gentle countenance.

Wonderful patina on this old tray from the Philippines. Woven from bamboo strips, this tray is approx 30 inches in diameter.

This pair of Lotus Shoes have a lotus blossom embroidered on each side of the white silk vamp. Used and showing many signs of wear, they are also a bit are dirtier than they appear in the pictures. One of the leather heels is missing. They measure just a bit over 5" heel to toe tip. Chinese women made their own shoes....White silk shoes, carefully embroidered, clearly made with hopes and dreams for the future....considering the dirt and wear, it appears that life did not go as she had hoped...

This traditional summer weight Manchu style (side closing)vest is from late Qing Dynasty. The lush deep blue silk fabric has a jacquard weave with an all over fret design. The lining is of deep maroon silk..the vest is entirely hand sewn, and fits a small to medium size woman.

This Japanese tray is 12.5 inches wide and 7.25 inches tall...It is lovely ...Meiji period wireless cloisonne tray depicting birds and flowers in the central field with wide scalloped border picturing Phoenix bird at the top center, a lizard on the right and another bird on the left...really and exceptional piece...the front in in excellant condition. The underside appears to have been over-painted

This ornate pectorial is from the Highlands region of Papua New Guinea and would have been worn by a man during ceremonial occasions. It is made from plant fiber, which was pigment dyed and studded with nassa shells. The piece is accented on either side by a large white cowrie shell.

This wonderful ethnographic artifact was obtained from the estate of an anthropology professor in St. Louis. Having been stored away for many years, the color of the pigment dyes are still relatively strong.

This matching Japanese 5 piece set consists of 2 deeply footed shallow serving bowls and 3 small shallow bowls. The deep rich red/orange lacquer background serves to highlight the gold, black and gray landscape scene which graces the inside of each piece. Flying high overhead a gold crane surveys the pine tree and series of sacred mountains. The largest piece is 7 inches diameter, next piece is 6 inches diameter and the 3 pieces each have a 3.5 inch diameter.

Set of 3 Meiji Kanzashi, Japanese hair pin sticks, have deep black lacquer background with ornate swirls of red and black lacquer and inlays of abalone shells. 1 stick is 9 inches long 2 sticks are 7.75 inches long

For Girls Day Palace display 3 male attendants each approximately 4 inches tall

Two Standing Ladies in Waiting for palace display and one lady seated for tea service. Standing ladies are 5.5 inches tall and the one seated is 3.5 tall

The 5 musicians from palace set of Girls Day Hina Dolls...the 2 musicians in the rear are are seated on stools are each 4.5 inches tall. The 3 seated on the floor are 3.5 inches tall

Ornate small pair of Japanese Girls Day display Emperor and Empress Dolls 4 inches tall... complete with hat, headress, fan etc...

Ornately detailed Meiji period hard to find pair of imperial archers for palace display Girls Day Hina Dolls. 5.5 inches high to the top of the head...

This Meiji period Japanese netsuke is hand carved and represents a mask of Okame aka Ko-omote the young girl of the Noh theater. Material appears to be ivory.

beautiful old hand mirror... small amount of deteriation to mirror silver back....typical for mirror of this age.. total length 9.5 inches width 3.5 inches at widest point and .5 inches thick at the handle...

An ornate painting of gold plant and leaf decoration swirl around and across the top of this Meiji period Japanese black lacquer 3 tier box. The bottom tier has a deep foot. The container measures 9 inches in diameter and is 11 inches tall. there are several small nicks in the inside lip/rim of the top box but these do not show in the outside...

This lovely set of 5 antique Japanese blue and white porcelain sake cups was made for export during the McKinley Tariff Act of 1890-1914 which required that the name of the country of origin appear in writing on each piece of pottery or porcelain imported into the country. Each cup has the makers name on the bottom as well as the country of origin. they are in excellant condition.

Cocks and dragons are the predominate design elements of this colorful antique Japanese obi... Family crest of golden thread on the end. Heavy silk brocade, in beautiful condition

This Japanese 3 panel screen has carved wood frame and lower panels. The upper panels have decoration of carved birds, and eagle and fauna carved from either died bone or natural colored shell. The hinges are double swing so that the panels can be arranged in various positions... opened out the screen is 17 inches across and 14 inches high.

This old panel is thickly Dazi embroidered in a banded pattern to reflect the terraced mountains sides of the Miao homeland. The panel uses lovely soft pinks and grays which are not adequately represented in the pictures. A beautiful piece in beautiful condition. 80 years old from Ge Yi. approx 21" x 23"

This is presumed to be central panel taken from 100 bird coat from the Bai Ling area. It has been bordered and backed by new fabric. The central panel is very tightly split-thread satin-stitched embroidery over a silk felted (non-woven) fabric. This piece is in pristine condition, and measures approximately 30" by 30"

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.

This mini snuff bottle is formed from copper and decorated with brass wire and turquoise. The writting is Mongolian (not Tibetan) and there is one stone missing on each side. The bottle is a scarce 1.25 inches high.