Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art (424)

This superb carved ivory page turner is an early 19th century product. On one side there is a very well carved garden scene and figures; a textured pattern covers the other side. It is 12 ¼” long, 1 5/8” wide and a little less than quarter of an inch thick (measured from the handle). It has a great patina. Aside from one hair line crack on the back, it is in excellent condition.

This 19th century ivory carving of a young woman wearing a straw hat and holding a fish is 11” high (13 1/2” high with hardwood base), 2 ¾” wide and 2” thick. This young woman is the central figure in a well-known Chinese opera called “The Fisherman’s Revenge” (Da Yu Sha Jia). The story concerns an old fisherman was threatened by a ruthless provincial governor. The governor insisted that the fisherman marry off his beautiful daughter to become the governor’s concubine...

This very well carved ivory beauty is an early 20th century product. It depicts a young lady holding a round fan in her left hand and carrying a flower basket on her right shoulder. It is 12 ¾” high (with wood base, it is 16” high), 2 ½” wide from her shoulders and 2” thick. Aside from one small age crack line on the base of the ivory, it is in excellent condition.

It was carved by a late 19th century or early 20th century artist Ryuzan (柳山). It depicts a smiling mother holding an umbrella and carrying a child on her back. It is 7 1/2" high and 2 3/4" wide (from the bottom) and 2 3/8" thick (from the bottom). It is in great condition.

This very well made bone carving of the legendary Chinese figure Xiang Yu 項 羽 (232 BC~202BC) is a late 19th century product. Xiang Yu is popularly known in Chinese as “Xi Chu Ba Wang” 西 楚 霸 王 which means “Conqueror of Western Chu”. For more information, please refer to the entry on Xiang Yu in Wikipedia. This statue is 9" high (with carved fitted wood base is 10" high), 3 3/4" wide and 3" in depth...

This tripod Chinese incense burner is an early 19th century product. It is 8 ¾” high and 8” wide (measured from both handles). The three legs are the form of Chinese mystical beast’s 饕餮 (Tao Tie) face and claws. The two handles are the image of Pi Xiu 貔貅 and the top is a form of Foo Lion. The body is covered with floral designs; cloud patterns appear on the top rim of the burner. There is an honorable “Qian Long Nian Made” mark on the bottom...

This superb late 19th century export ivory carving is 11 ¾” high, 4 ½” wide and 3 ¾” thick. It depicts daily activity in a small village. There are houses, temples and pagodas surrounded by a river, a forest of pine trees and mountains. There is an old repair on a pine tree, some small losses and several hairline cracks on the top of the tusk. Considering its age, it is in great condition.

This is a set of twelve late Qing Dynasty Famille Rose Mille Fleurs (thousand flowers) plates. Each plate is 1” high and 7 1/2” in diameter. A large pink peony appears in the center of each plate; chrysanthemum, lily, hibiscus, iris and several unknown flowers fill the tops of the plates. There are Guang Xu (1875~1908) marks and three separate floral (peony) designs on the back. The workmanship is elegant. The gold edging on the rims has slightly rubbed off...

This Sui Dynasty (581~618) yellow burial horse is 10 1/2” high, 11 ¾” long and 5 ¾” wide. It depicts a battle horse wearing a leather saddle and a draped saddle cloth. Aside from an old repair on the tail and part of the neck, it is in great condition.

This matched pair of ivory carvings of birds resting on a plum tree was completed in the mid or late 19th century. They depict long tail birds resting on old plum tree trunk. Their heads are turned in an interesting pose. They are 10” high (11 ½” high with hard wood base), 2 ¼” wide and 2” in depth. The carvings have a very nice patina. Aside from one hair line crack on the bottom of one of the trees, they are in great condition.

This very well carved black and celadon jade (nephrite and jadeite) bead necklace is an early 20th century product. All the beads are well carved; it is quite possible this was a court necklace. After being restrung, it is a beautiful 31” long necklace now. It has 36 black beads and 4 celadon beads. The black beads are about 11/16” in diameter; the celadon beads are about 13/16” in diameter. The colors are very even and the carvings are superb...

This early 20th century carved ivory landscape is 10 ½” high, 4 ¼” wide and 3 5/8” thick. The scene depicts a sage riding on a horse followed by a young female maid crossing a bridge. A monkey (probably the legendary “Monkey King”) stands on the top of the mountain. Pine trees, bamboo and plum trees are growing around the mountain and river. There is an honorific mark “Kang Xi” on the bottom. Aside of some the worn colors, it is in excellent condition.

These rare ivory carvings of two immortals are early 20th century products. The male immortal is Lu Dongbin; he is 8 ¾” high (with base is 10” high), 3” wide 2 ½” thick. The female is He Xiangu; she is 8 ¾” high (with base is 10” high), 3” wide 2 ½” thick. Lu Dongbin ( 呂洞賓 ) is one of the most widely known of the group of deities known as the “Eight Immortals” and considered by some to be the leader...

This 19th century jade (nephrite) carving of PiXiu is 8” long, 3 ¾” high and 3” wide. PiXiu is a Chinese mythical creature who is considered to be a very powerful protector regarding the practice of Feng Shui. Not only it can protect an individual or a family, it will also draw wealth from all directions. PiXiu resembles a winged lion and is the ninth offspring of a dragon. It has a pair of bulging eyes, a long, bushy tail and one curly horn (some have two horns)...

This rare tortoise shell carved RuYi (scepter) is a mid-19th century product. It is 13 ½” long and 3 1/2” wide from the widest part (head of the scepter). There are fourteen cranes carved in relief flying in coiled lucky clouds. The pattern repeats and covers the entire handle and head. It is in excellent condition. More photos are available.

The pair of mid 19th century carved ivory emperor and empress are 14”~15” high, 3”~3 ½” wide and 2 ½” thick. The emperor’s right hand holds a pagoda; his left hand carries a long sword. Two small long tailed birds and a flower plant are placed in front of him. The empress’s right hand holds a flower basket; her left hand carries a tassel. A large phoenix sitting on a garden rock is beside her...

This pair of ivory carvings of ladies and lotus was completed in the mid 19th century. They depict aristocratic ladies holding stylized bouquets of reeds and lotus...

This rare carved jade archaic burial ornament is 4 7/16” long, 1 11/16” high and 3/16” thick. It was carved on both sides. It depicts a stylized beast with small wings, a small long tailed beast is hanging on its body. It has a very nice patina, especially on its tail. It is in great condition.