Finely woven Iban women’s kain skirt, circa 1940 with “eye of the green pigeon” and bamboo pattern, from the Kapit area, Sarawak, Malaysia. Fine and tight weaves like this, indicate that owner was from a high status. There is one repair noted in enlargements. This ikat is made from all handspun and natural dyes while the colored bands are commercial thread. L: 115cm/42.5in and W: 57cm/22.5in.
Korean Joseon dynasty lacquered wood hinged scholar’s document box with brass edge brackets and brass lockplate. One shelf to the interior. 19th century. 14 3/8” long x 7 5/8” wide x 7 1/2" high. Very good, solid overall condition with great patina and typical wear and soiling from use. Ink stains and unreadable ink calligraphy are evident on the underside of the lid. There is a split in the bottom and one small chip to the interior corner of the inner shelf...
You are considering an authentic set of three arc-shaped pendants from the Neolithic or Shang period, circa 2000-1500 BCE. Similar published examples can be found in Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Ching at pages 158-159 (the latter illustration showing a similar item from the collection of the British Museum). As with the other examples, these three pieces join together to form a ring...
Bronze vase with reddish-brown patina, oblong shape with small hemmed neck and rust-colored marks.
Unidentified signature under the vase.
Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912)
Height: 8.1 in. (20.5 cm) – diameter: 6 in. (15 cm)
Pair of amusing maki-e lacquered wooden spoons with an insect motif on the spoon, a cicada and a butterfly. Handle with braided rope pattern.
Label on the back : 坧耒 ? (uncertain transcription).
Japan – 20th century
Width: 1.38 in. (3.5 cm) – length: 6.57 in. (16.7 cm)
Wooden suzuribako decorated with two hares with red eyes in gold and silver lacquer surrounded by grass.
The interior is made of negoro-nuri lacquer. This is an ancient technique, developed in the Kamakura period (1185-1333) at the Negoro temple in the ancient province of Kii (now Wakayama prefecture). It is characterized by vermilion color, made from cinnabar and showing natural brush marks...
Bamboo toad on a bluebell flower. The node of the wood is used as the base of the statuette.
The toad and the frog, referred to under the same term in Japanese (kaeru) are associated with good luck and wealth. Kaeru means both "toad/frog" and "coming home" in Japanese. This extension of meaning is due to the ability of the toad to return to the pond of its birth every year...
Bamboo sitting toad. The node of the wood is used as the base of the statuette.
The toad and the frog, referred to by the same term in Japanese (kaeru) are associated with good luck and wealth. Kaeru means both "toad" and "coming home" in Japanese. This extension of meaning is due to the ability of the toad to return to the pond of its birth every year...
Three-legged toad in bronze.
The three-legged toad, originating from Chinese mythology, is a Feng Shui symbol of prosperity and wealth.
Chan Chu, the three-legged toad, is mentioned by the poet Qu Yuan in The Songs of Chu...
Tibetan thogchag figuring Chanadordje, 3,5 x 3,5 cms
Strap made of a piece of thick leather, and cast silver and brass ornaments with turquoise.
Beautiful typical Sino-Tibetan craftsmanship including the face and hands of Kirtimukha ("face of glory").
This kind of strap was mainly used to attach a big knife.
This belt strap has obviously been repaired and remade (see pix). The turquoise have been replaced by an other old one; the silver and brass pieces are at least 19th C...
A very attractive and scarce Tabloid seal, Northern Mesopotamia, c. later 4th. millenium BC.
The serpentine seal engraved with cruciform and stylized scorpio pattern. Fine thick drill.
Size: 20 x 17 mm...
A larger hemispheric stone seal with a dome and elaborate line below the drilling on the top, Mesopotamian, Uruk period c. 4000-3000 BC.
The seal is carved with a later version of the archaic 'grit' pattern, where it looks like horisontical script-lines.
Very nicely made in an attractive and very hard green-black stone.
Size: 28 mm. in diameter, 14-15 mm...
A larger serpentine stone stamp seal of the gable type, Ubaid period of Anatolia and Syria, c. 4th. millenium BC.
Recent research clearly indicates that highly advanced city cultures allready existed in the Ubaid period of Anatolia and Syria in the early 4th. millenium BC and perhaps even before that...
Width of Bowl: 10 cm (4 in)
Height of Bowl: 5.9 cm (2.4 in)
Width of Lid: 9.2 cm (3.7 in)
Height of Lid: 3.2 cm (1.3 in)
Overall Height: 8.1 cm (3.2 in)
Quality Chinese porcelain famille rose lidded bowl; decorated with polychrome florals on the bowl and lid; Tongzhi marks on both bases; probably Guangxu Period; good condition
Impressive red stone Jasper Gable seal, Greater Mesopotamia,, probably a Levantine workshop, 4th. millenium BC.
A nice depiction of either a hering pattern or a stylized scorpio?
Size: 33 mm. long.
Condition: Near Very Fine, some minor losses to edges.
Comes with original Id card.
Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, bought at reputable dealers and from ol...
South Asia, India, ca. 18th-19th century.
A solid cast bronze alloy figure depicting Krishna the "Butter Thief" as a youth holding a ball of butter that he stole from his stepmother. Baby Krishna or Bala Krishna is crawling with a ball of butter in his right hand. As mischievous children/babies, Krishna and his older brother Balarama stole jars of butter and yogurt from their families and neighbors.
Size: 63 mm. tall. - weighing c. 100 grams.
Condition: Intact, ...
Late Meiji/Taisho (1890s-1910s) Japanese wooden nyoi - a Buddhist scepter made out of a branch with a natural knobby formation at its head. Nyoi, or Ruyi scepter is a traditional symbol of scholarship and transmission of knowledge. Wonderfully simple piece in Japanese taste, on a short side (usually nyoi are 12 inches or slightly longer), beautiful wear and patina. Comes with a box and wrapping cloth, paper label with inscription on the cover of the box, red seal and ink inscription on the insid...