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.

Made from ox horn, and shaped into a perfectly balanced shoehorn, this antique Chinese folk art artifact serves in both form and function. There is a delicately carved design on the back. The handle part of the horn has eyes carved so that the piece takes the shape of an animal and there is a hole carved so that the shoehorn can be hung from a cord. I vaguely remember hearing that the Chinese inventing the shoehorn, but have not been able to verify this as historic fact.

The top of this black lacquer Japanese box is heavily carved with leaves and foliage. The carved oval cinnabar panel in the center depicts a long and stable marriage scene. The standing wife has just served her sitting husband tea in the garden, outside the house surrounded by mountains. The four sides of the box are carved with continuous textile design.

The box is 5.5 inches x 4.75 inches and 2+ inches high.

A very nice Victorian tartanware paper knife in the form of a pocket knife. The cover is in the McBeth tartan. The folding blade is carved from bone or ivory (the blade is too thin to be able to tell with certainty). Tartanware became popular in the mid-19th century because of Queen Victoria's fascination with Scotland. The colorful plaids were transformed into an enormous array of objects for daily use.

Origin: Scotland, ca. 1850...

18th Century Pottery Figure of Doll Terracotta.good conditions. size: 7,5cm high

An Empress Gloss papier mache advertising box circa 1890-1900. This German box has a fancy script "EMPRESS" GLOSS gold advertising decal on the lid. This 6-1/4" x 2-1/4" box has a black lacquer exterior and a red interior, and the lid is hinge-mounted. It is stamped "PAPIER MACHE" MANUFACTURED IN GERMANY on the bottom...

Southern Cheyenne Rare Dispatch Case. Circa 1880-1890. Sinew sewn, yellow orchre pigment, tin cones suspensions, hide soft and supple. No apparent bead loss. The reverse hide, showing drawings of that were never finished, may have been recycled from an earlier southern plains piece. Measures 10 1/2" by 9 1/4" without suspensions; and 14" at the longest end suspensions.

A lovely six inch koro decorated in the 10,000 flower design against a pale grey blue ground, well executed and with only minimal pitting.

A fine and early Canadian East Coast native ash splint market basket made around 1900, possibly a little earlier. This basket stands 10-3/4" high with the handle and it measures 11-3/4" x 10-7/8" across the mouth; it is in excellent original condition with no damage or repairs other than a stained area with some minor losses on the interior bottom of the basket...

A very beautifully rendered Japanese treasure ship with intricate details that are just amazing, this large cast iron antique is lacquered with the 'old red' traditional lacquer that can only be found on your older Japanese antiques. Its function is rare as it doubles up as a censer, fine slit holes are found in the front and backsides of the sail, allowing a fine mist of smoke to create an allusion that the ship is sailing through a fog...

A wonderful and very desirable example of an 8-sided Lowestoft tea caddy, or canister. Painted with a flower bouquet and sprays beneath a border of flowerheads and foliate scrolls, the top having flowers and leaves.

The caddy is 3 1/2 inches tall and 3 inches in diameter, and is in superb condition, with no cracks, chips, or restoration. The only tiny blemish of any type is a 3/16" long glaze split at the top of the rim, clearly occurring during manufacture...

This antique lidded container was made for jewelry or other small household items. Obviously hand made, probably by the original owner, it does have a few surface nicks from age and use. With a 5 inch diameter and standing approx 4 inches high, it is a charming artifact of Chinese folk art.

An Excellent Porcelain Armorial Inkstand or Deskset, made by Edme Samson et Cie, Paris, circa 1880. In a Rectangular Shape, with Two Inkwells, with Inserts. Dimensions; 10.25" wide x 7,75" deep x 3.5" high. In excellent shape, except for a slight chip on on of the inkwell tops (see picture). There is no mark on the underside, but it is definitely Samson, based on other items we have recently posted.

This fanciful Art Nouveau style brass desk box was originally made to hold stamps but would be a great place to store a special ring, cufflinks or a secret. Rectangular shaped, standing on four feet, the hinged cover has a centered sunflower surrounded by leaves and vines, two compartments inside, unmarked. Measures 3 in. x 1 5/8 in. x 1 1/4 in. high. Condition is near perfect.

Ming Dynasty, 1500s

This circular-form lidded box is of a type found widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia as a Chinese trade item exchanged for spices, pearls, precious metals produced by the various foreign island cultures. Small boxes such as this one were possibly intended for cosmetics or spice storage. This box is painted with a stylized flower on the lid surrounded by a hastily-painted leaf border. The base is likewise painted with two abstract floral designs...

A Porcelain Armorial Plate made by Edme Samson et Cie, Paris, featuring the Jackson Family Crest. It is marked "Jsckson" on the back and "Ovington Brothers, New York" (old Fifth Avenue Retailer). Dimensions; 9" in diameter x 1" high. Circa 1890 and in excellent condition.

This plain pot metal vessel was used to contain hair oil during the reign of Chinese Emperor Daoquang about 1850. Standing about 6 inches high and 3.5 inches diameter at the widest point, a woman would dip her comb into the oil before combing her hair. I do have an identical matched pair of these but am selling them separately.

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...