Catalog: Vintage Arts (33)

From our Japanese Collection, a fine and very attractive mid-century silk thread composition depicting a Shinto shrine nestled within a treed riverbank, with a foot-bridge and boats in the foreground. The composition uses rich but tasteful shades of burgundy, brown, cream, dark green, a touch of soft pink, and other subtle earth tones. The piece evokes a relaxed charm.

Size and Condition: Framed dimensions are 25 inches wide, 19 3/4 inches tall...

From our World Handicrafts Collection (ex-Asia), a very striking and highly unusual vintage silk on cotton kilim style rug, Persia, executed in a bold multi-colored palette of red, gold, purple, blue, rust, green, brown, peach, pink, cream, turquoise and black. It's a legitimate reflex to assume this unusual kilim comes from somewhere in the Caucasus Region, but further research suggests that the lion and double eagles in the center panel are actually Persian motifs de guerre...

From our Indian Subcontinent Collection, a beautiful vintage Indian silk sari executed in a rich and lively multi-colored palette. The central panel uses purple and red silks along with gold thread woven into elaborate floral and geometric designs, and the borders use blue and green silks along with gold thread as well.

Size and Condition: This is a tremendous piece measuring 196 inches (16 1/3 feet) long, and 43 1/2 inches (3 1/2 feet) wide...

From our Indian Subcontinent Collection, a beautiful vintage Indian silk sari executed in a rich fuscia colored silk and using silver threads woven into floral and geometric motifs.

Size and Condition: This is a tremendous piece measuring 179 inches (15 feet) long and 44 inches (3 1/2 feet) wide. Due to its size it is rather cumbersome to photograph, and so the photos are showing the piece folded and at only a fraction of its actual size...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a fine and massive vintage Burmese Kalaga, intricately and painstakingly constructed of literally thousands of small metallic disks, colored threads, beads, and fabric swatches, all woven and assembled into a massive tapestry illustrating scenes from the life of the Buddha.

Burmese kalagas are often misidentified as being Thai in origin since they are routinely acquired across the border in Thailand where tourist travel is far more common than in Burma i...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, an important and magnificently large, published, inscribed and dated Burmese temple Buddha, Mandalay School, constructed of fabulously carved hardwood coated in reddish-brown lacquer and gilt, depicting Buddha seated in padmasana position with his right hand in bhumisparsa mudra, elevated upon a single tier base with iron temple security rings, and bearing a raised-lacquer dedication inscription that essentially translates as follows: "Wish-fulfilling Kabalon ...

See description for item # 990732: a Large, Published, Inscribed, Dated, Burmese Buddha

From our Indian Subcontinent Collection, a fine vintage wool and silk Pakistani Bokhara rug in classic Tekke Gul design, handwoven on a vertical loom with cotton base, using a combination of natural mineral pigments and synthetic dyes. The Tekke Gul motifs as well as various tiers of the border elements, are all outlined in off-white / cream colored silk, a rather elaborate and more complicated execution seen on the higher quality examples...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a massive Indonesian teak wood carved panel executed in high-relief, depicting a scene from the Ramayana.

Indonesia, like Burma, has a long standing and very accomplished woodcarving tradition where generations of craftsmen have been producing great woodwork for decades...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a good and large vintage Indonesian batik executed in three different shades of blue, along with rust, peach, olive, black, brown, white, and signed by the artist.

Batik is one of many methodologies of fabric decoration employed in Indonesia's long and rich textile tradition...

From our Indian Subcontinent Collection, a large and fine vintage thangka, either Tibetan or Nepalese, executed in a subdued yet very elegant palette emphasizing substantial gold use, along with blue, coral, gray, brown, taupe, white, and light green, all painted in an unusually meticulous and finely detailed fashion that is almost more like satsuma workmanship than typical thangka painting...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a small but fine Burmese ink on palm leaf sutra with thayo embossed wood covers, depicting Buddha under the Bodhi Tree of Enlightenment flanked by two adorants in the center medallion, then encircled by disciples and zoomorphic entities in the surrounding images. The reverse side contains sutra writings in Burmese script, not yet translated...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a superb Indonesian ebony wood carving of Ruana, expertly rendered with such animation and ferocity that the character looks almost demon-like, so much so that we actually find this particular piece a bit creepy.....But that is ultimately testimony to the tremendous skill of the carver...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a superb Indonesian ebony wood carving of a Legong dancer, expertly rendered capturing the marvelous grace and elegance of this traditional Balinese dance.

As Wikipedia describes it, "Legong is a form of Balinese dance. It is a refined dance form characterized by intricate finger movements, complicated footwork, and expressive gestures and facial expressions. Legong probably originated in the 19th century as royal entertainment...

From our Indian Subcontinent Collection, a fine and large tempura on silk original painting depicting figures in what seems like a celestial dance, almost a magical procession...

From our European Collection, a large and beautiful Egermann Bohemian Crystal Vase, a one-of-a kind artist signed original by K.Varra. This piece is hand-cut, wheel-engraved, and stained in ruby colored crystal exhibiting the stag motif, which historically is a classic Egermann design for which the company is credited with being the very first to incorporate into crystal ware...

From our European Collection, a beautiful hexafoil Egermann Bohemian Crystal compote, a one-of-a kind artist signed original by Mledenov. This piece is hand-cut, wheel-engraved, and stained in ruby colored crystal. The general feel of this piece is classic old-world Egermann, and it pays tribute to the established Bohemian Crystal design motifs, but it is nevertheless an original and in a very interesting and elegant hexafoil form...

From our European Collection, a good set of Egermann Bohemian Crystal wine glasses, hand-cut, wheel-engraved, and stained in ruby colored crystal...

From our Indian Subcontinent Collection, a large and fine vintage Pakistani Bokhara rug using extra fine wool and silk in classic Tekke Gul design, handwoven on a vertical loom with cotton base, using a combination of natural mineral pigments and synthetic dyes in brown, black, taupe, cream, and pale green. Whilst Bokhara rugs are often perceived as utilitarian in nature and not seen as art objects by their makers, this particular rug is of such good quality that the maker decided to sign it...

From our Indian Subcontinent Collection, a large and elegant hand-etched brass floor lamp from Southern India. The etched designs on this piece are really quite intricate, and it is clear that a tremendous amount of time and handiwork went into the layout and artistry of this piece.

Size and Condition: 71 inches tall (just shy of 6 feet), lampshade is 18 inches in diameter at widest point. The lamp has been fitted with American electrical hardware and is still in good working order. ...

From our Japanese Collection, a good set of three large ceremonial lacquer sake shallow bowls in graduated sizes, Showa Period, very handsomely executed with raised gold and black designs of figures set against a red lacquer ground. It is quite possible this set is older than we give it credit for, perhaps dating from late Meiji through to the Taisho Period (1912-1926) as several very similar sets for sale on Trocadero are dated, but with these ceremonial lacquer pieces that are totally unused ...

From our World Handicrafts Collection (ex-Asia), a fine vintage Afghani tribal rug, wool on wool handmade construction, using exclusively natural pigments / mineral dyes. A modestly sized but very well-executed and elegant example that works well in either a rustic or formal decor.

Size and Condition: 57 inches long, 39 inches wide. There are some random expected thread pulls and light wear commensurate with age and use, but overall excellent condition.

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a fine and very large Khmer (Cambodian) handmade silk textile now framed as a wall hanging, executed in traditional Khmer palette using a combination of natural vegetal dyes and synthetic colors, depicting various animal and geometric motifs. A very striking and dramatic piece not commonly encountered.

Size and Condition: 94 1/2 inches wide, 40 1/2 inches tall. Some minor thread pulls here and there but overall excellent condition.

From our Chinese Monochrome Collection, a beautiful white porcelain Guanyin, Goddess of Compassion and Mercy, executed in the style of early 20th century slip-cast blanc de chine from Dehua, but actually a later vintage-era white porcelain example from Jingdezhen in Jiangxi Province. (Among other things, the difference here rests in the nature of the underlying porcelain paste, which to novice eyes may be difficult to discern, but to our eyes is clearly not true blanc de chine.) Nevertheless, s...

From our Indian Subcontinent Collection, a very large teakwood sideboard / buffet from Kerala in Southern India, crafted with old-growth teakwood using carved sunburst motifs for the compartment doors. A very understated yet elegant example featuring large compartments and a large top surface area, making it very functional besides its strong appeal as highly decorative ethnic furniture.

Size and Condition: A large piece at 74 inches wide, 34 inches tall, 23 inches deep. Overall condit...

From our Fine Arts and Americana Collection, a nice set of vintage American nightstands dating from the 1950's, constructed of solid hardwood with Carpathian Elm burl veneers.

Not much is known about the Bethlehem Furniture Manufacturing Corp. of Red Lion Pennsylvania that crafted this set, but they were apparently a small niche manufacturer active from the late 19th century up until the mid 20th century. This particular set was acquired new in the 1950's, and we acquired it from the ori...

From our World Handicrafts Collection (ex-Asia), a large and very fine Persian rug, hand-woven of wool and silk in a rich and elegant palette of deep red, dark and light blue, tan, mint green, pale orange, and cream.

Size and Condition: 10 feet and 4 inches long (124 inches), 7 feet and 8 inches wide (92 inches). There are some thread pulls and light general wear, but overall condition is excellent.

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a fine and massive vintage Burmese Kalaga, intricately and painstakingly constructed of literally thousands of small metallic disks, colored threads, beads, and fabric swatches, all woven and assembled into a massive tapestry illustrating scenes from the life of the Buddha. This piece is very similar in overall design, palette, size, and age as item 984258 and was acquired around the same time, except that this example has since been framed under plexiglass w...

PLEASE NOTE: WE HAVE RECENTLY RE-ACQUIRED THIS VERY FINE KO KAW TEE FROM A CLIENT WHO IS LIQUIDATING HIS ANTIQUE HOLDINGS DUE TO HEALTH ISSUES AND MEDICAL EXPENSES: WHILE WE ARE VERY SADDENED TO LEARN OF THIS CLIENT'S CONDITION AND CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES, WE ARE GRATIFIED AT LEAST TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST THIS WONDERFUL GENTLEMAN IN THIS MANNER, AND TO RE-OFFER THIS FINE ITEM ONCE AGAIN: From our Southeast Asia Collection, a truly exceptional lacquered and gilded woven-bamboo basket known as a Ko Ka...

From our Chinese Blue and White Collection, and in honor of the Chinese New Year / Year of the Dragon, we are pleased to offer this large and unusual, five-clawed dragon decorated Shu-family memorial censer, inscribed and dated to the twenty-third year of the Republic (1934), with the "min guo er shi san nian" date appearing on the right side of the ancestral temple, and a family dedication from Shu family descendants appearing to the left. Flanking the ancestral temple on each side are two well...

From our Fine Arts and Americana Collection, an elegant vintage console table circa 1950, constructed of solid hardwood most likely either American walnut or oak, featuring cabriole legs that are lathe turned and then hand-finished by bandsaw, rasp and scraper. The table is surmounted by a lovely white Italian marble beveled top with rose colored veining and striations. It is marked on the interior with "Weiman Heirloom Quality Tables," an American furniture manufacturer known to first be activ...

From our World Handicrafts Collection (ex-Asia), a beautiful vintage Persian rug circa 1925-1950 from Isfahan Province, featuring wool on cotton construction utilizing a vibrant palette of strong red, strong blue, and cream as the main colors of the central field, along with secondary accent colors of brown, peach, mint green, two other shades of blue, and rose pink. A very striking example in superb condition.

Size and Condition: 11 1/2 feet x 8 1/4 feet. Condition is truly superb, t...

From our World Handicrafts Collection (ex-Asia), a handsome Persian Heriz rug featuring wool on cotton construction, utilizing an elegant palette of cranberry red, black, and salmon as the main colors of the so-called "shield pattern" central field, and using secondary accent colors of blue-green, orange, brown and beige, along with turtle motif designs in the borders.

Size and Condition: 11 1/4 feet x 7 1/2 feet. Excellent condition throughout with a great thick pile and very good colo...