Catalog (603)

Traditional Qing style side closing, black satin weave cotton fabric with elaborate trim... really striking and wearable garment

Rare Japanese antique box. Body of box has treebark finish. The top has 2 very fine lacquerware pieces depicting cranes and irises. The keyhole escheon is floral shaped and is incised. Sorry, no key, condition is very good. 10.5 x 3.5 x 2.5

This Miao Baby carrier is from the Bai Ling region of China. As is typical of this region, the straps are embroidered. This attractive piece was probably only used for a few festivals before being stored away for the next generations use. In excellant condition, it measures 38" long.

This hat is extensively decorated with the wrapped thread embroidery technique which is distinctive to the Dong Ethnic Minority group. Additionally detailed with tassels and plastic beads, the hat was clearly made by a loving grandmother approximately 30-35 years ago. The hat is in excellent condition.

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

This lovely small woman's purse was made from silk satin fabric and embroidered with silk thread useing the satin stitch. The purse still has the original silk ribbon attached to the bottom, and belt loop attached at the top.

Many Chinese would "grind" a day's supply of ink in advance and store the liquid ink in a metal "inkbox". According to the calligraphy on the top of this inkbox, it was a gift in the year of the goat, to a medical inspector upon completion of his 3rd year of work in Yuncheng city, Shanxi province. The inkbox is 3 inches in diameter and has an dried ink in the bottom and a built in inkstone inside the lid.

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.

This set of Chinese dolls were made with wire bodies covered with fabric padding and then silk clothing. Their heads, lower arms and feet are made from some kind of composition material and then painted. Because of their wire construction, their arms, legs, and bodies etc can be carefully repositioned. The feet are wired together to provide a more stable base...it is a theory which frankly does not always work well.

The mother and father are each approx 7 inches tall in standing pos...

Carved from a single block of hardwood, this Chinese drum has great patina aged surfaces. An old folk art instrument, it shows the wear of use during many musical performances at chinese operas and street festivals. When "beaten" with its accompanying drum stick, it has a deep attractive sound.

This antique bracelet from Tibet is both thick and weighty, but it is very small for a Western wrist. The opening measures a scant 1 inch.

There are 3 pairs of serving trays in this boxed set of Japanese sushi trays. Each pair is a different size and color combination. Each tray displays the family mon or emblem on the front. There are 2 red trays, 2 red and black trays, and 2 all black trays. Being Japanese, the pairs of trays nest together a specific order to be stored in the carrying box.

The kiri wood box has a strip of wood on each side to act as a carrying handle. The box is 14.25 inches (36 cm) square by 28.25 (72 cm)...

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.

Needles were a valued woman's sewing tool and were carefully secured in a special case hanging from the belt. This Chinese silver needle case has 6 sides, each with a delicate repousse floral design. The bottom is weighted with a small turquoise and larger amber bead.

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 is one of a pair of wooden (not papier mache) footed plates made for export. The central medallion Japanese scene is classic and the rim has ornate panels with animals and plants. Each side has handle shaped and painted as an ivy leaf.

On the black lacquered back is the rement of a very old label with indistinguishable Asian characters. Plate is 10.75 at the widest point.Sourced from an old estate in the US, Chinoiserie of this detail and quality are rare, probably Edo Period between 18...

This is one of a pair of wooden (not papermache) chinoiserie footed plates made for export. The central medallion Japanese scene is classic and the rim has ornate panels of individual woman in various poises. Each side has handle shaped and painted as an ivy leaf.

On the black lacquered back is the rement of a very old label. Plate is 10.75 inches at the widest point. Sourced from an old estate in the US, Chinoiserie of this detail and quality are rare, probably Edo Period between 1840-185...

Very Nice patina on this old Tibetan Dorje. It is 7 inches long. The Tibetan Dorje is the equivalent of the India Buddhist symbol of Vajra or Thunderbolt which represents the masculine force....

Meticulously embroidered panel for baby carrier that never got finished.. and was packed away to be finished later...probably by a loving grandmother, and then backed and border probably her daughter for sale. Miao people in the region of Zhi Jin including border ...measures 20 x 23.5 inches the last 2 pics are of the back side of the embroidery

This very nice traditional Chinese pillow has leg supports which fold up when it is not in use. The top is made of shaped and stained bamboo slats which flex for soft comfort. The body of the piece is made of a dark wood with carved scrollwork along the bottom edge. Each end has an elaborate carving of a bat in flight. good condition 15"x 5" x 4" with legs extended

This wonderful pair of lotus shoes are typical of boots from Shandong. They have a black cuff with hand-embroidered butterfly motif and the remanents of a thin pink woven band. The blue vamp is somewhat faded toward the front of the boot and has delicately embroidered butterfly on each side. The soles have worn leather heels. The inside silk lining is bright pink and in very good condition.

This small hinged metal case is covered with leather and opens to display both red ink pot and personal ivory chop. The person's name on the base of the chop is clearly carved. Leather in old China was very expensive...the owner of this chop must been a person of both status and wealth. The leather shows age but is intact and set is in very good condition. The case measures 2.5" X 1+" This is a rare old piece.

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"

This small embroidered wallet style purse would have been used by a traditional Han Chinese woman to carry coins during the Qing dynasty. There are pockets on each side of the purse. And the all satin stitched embroidery is also on each side of the wallet.

This antique Chinese hat would have been worn by a child and probably made and embroidered by a grandparent. This hat is old and has unusual silver ornaments in the front. Condition is pristine with the exception that the large round silver ornament decoration is missing 2 small prongs, and the silk ribbon bordering the extension of the wind cover for protecting the back of the childs neck also has some deterioration areas.

This antique beaded headband is from Guang Dong province in China, and is typical of headgear worn by Chinese woman around the turn of the 19th-20th century. It would have been worn the narrow portion across the forehead, with the rounded flap portions covering the ears and fastened in the back of the head.

This old Chinese Miao ethnic minority child's hat is thickly padded for winter wearing. The red silk fabric with silk thread satin stitch embroidery really stands out. One silver butterfly ornament decorates the back of the hat and provides noise to protect the child from evil spirits. a bit dirty but hat is in very good condition.

This belt would have been worn for festival gatherings. Decorated with beads, cowrie shells and central turquoise medallion the belt strap is narrow approx 1.25 inched wide. Hanging from the belt are beaded strands in graduated lengths with each strand ending with a cowrie shell. There is a cord tie attached so that the belt can be tied at the back of the wearer. It is a lovely piece

This traditional tribal comb would be worn for festival by Yao ethnic minority woman of Southern China. The comb was carved from sections of bone which are held together with a twining technique. The bone sections are tatooed with traditional Yao design pattern. The comb alone is 5.5 inches long and 3 inches wide. The combined length with the pompom and tassels is almost 12 inches long.

The puppets costume and "figure" are that of a of a medieval matron. Her head is paper mache and is manipulated from inside. Her head has a wide range of motion side to side, extending high with long fabric neck and can be cocked in different directions for added expression. The arms are long reaching and are supported and manipulated by metal rods, one is original and the other has been replaced.

She stands 21 to 22+ inches depending on length of neck extension. She is in good conditio...

Lovely old pair of matching Tibetan tea bowls. Carved from burl wood with silver/metal decoration around the foot and silver liner inside the bowls. bowls are roughly 2 inches high and 3.75 inches diameter across the rimmed bowl

Obvious hand carved, this antique Sarinda is missing the tuning pegs, and the animal skin covering...wonderful patina...This is rare collectors ethnographic piece, and looks great hanging on a wall.

24 x 9 x 7 inches...hand carved from one solid piece of wood.

The "Sarinda" musical instrument was used for centuries in various countries in Central Asia, primarily in Rajasthan (Northern India), Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Baluchistan. There are several variations of this folk in...

During the Qing Dynasty, the feathers of the kingfisher bird were used to create ornaments for woman to attach to clothing and/or wear in their hair... Through the 1800's These ornaments were made and formed with heavy paper (light weight cardboard...) They had large areas of feathers and the edges of the paper form were bordered with gold paint...and the ornaments were often domed By the early 1900's the bird were becoming rare almost extinct ...so intricate and smaller sections of fea...

This small wooden box has a charming scene with 2 happy dragons carved into the sliding top. All 4 sides are carved. Late Qing period, box is in good condition, and measures 5" x 3" x 1.5

Late 1800's -very early 1900's this fixed fan was made and of hide elaborately pierced and painted. The fan handle and support is made from carved and curved horn...

This small purse was made by Miao girl to be given to "boyfriend"...If he accepts and wears the purse on his belt...he favors her. The embroidery stitch is called Daiz but westerners know it as Peking knot aka forbidden stitch. 5.5 x 3 excellant condition