Catalog: Antiques (488)

This lovely old vest of damask silk is lightly padded for winter wearing. There is some sun fading on both front and back silk but overall condition is very good...original frog closures..hand stitched...cotton lining...

This antique toggle was sourced from China. I suspect that was originally from Tibet. The carved circular markings on bottom of 2 of the sides of the toggle are more typical of the ethnic minorities.

Toggle is almost 2 inches long and .5 inches x .5 inches.

During the Qing dynasty, carved wood blocks were used to produce the ancestor portraits which decorated the homes of many Chinese families. The Chinese translation of the term "ancestor Portraits" can be misleading to Westerners. These were not portraits of the particular family's ancestors. They were portraits of various Chinese officials, emperor, empress, etc. for whom the family wished to show respect and or allegiance...

This long home spun background heavy cotton fabric is appliqued with embroideries salvaged from a very Dong minority old Jacket... the corner are accented with long beaded tassels... At great for table runner or shoulder scarf... Roughly point to point 73 inches long and 15.5 inches wide

This well used pair of Chinese woman's Lotus shoes for bound feet has embroidered satin stitch floral motif on both sides of the toe. The soles have nice stitch detail

This old Indo-Persian Bronze bowl has ornate repousse pattern and is heavily patinated with use and age. The upper rim edge has a few small chips from ages past. The bowl is 4.5 inches in diameter and about 2.3 inches high. The bowl is an artifact from the early 1800'S.

This charming old Chinese headband was handmade for a small child sometime in the late Qing dynasty. It is one of the nicest animal headbands that I have seen, and it is in good condition. The cat's face would have been worn at the child's forehead and is 3 dimensional. Made with silk fabric, with silk thread for the elaborately embroidery, the face is complete with ears that flap, and side paws. Opened at the back seam for easy framing, it can easily be re-sewn to fit display stand.

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

This Chinese carved bamboo brush rest has traditional dragons chasing pearl and cloud motif. The background shape is the 5 mountains and the rim of the mountains have carved ridges. The piece measures 3.5 inches high and 6 inches across. The natural curve of the bamboo allows the piece to stay upright, and the piece remains balanced on the 1/2 inch thick bamboo. Condition is very good.

This is a wonderful Qing Dynasty child's hat from Shui minority group in the Rong Jiang area. It is traditional looking Chinese cap style made with silk fabric and silk split thread embroidery, and top knot. This hat is over 100 years old, and has wonderfully soft patina, and shows some wear. Truely charming

This antique sutra book is from Tibet... more pages than I want to count, original paper, writings and covers... size 6 inches x 2 x 1.5

This traditional antique Chinese childs top was made using a fine, deep royal blue damask silk with black silk trim. From a wealthy family, this top was padded for winter use, has all the original frog and monkey fist knot closures, and a hand embroidered rondel with lots of couching and seed stitches (aka forbidden stitch)

This old Chinese container would have been used by a poor farmer or fisherman to carry his lunch, and tea while he was off working for the day. The main container has 2 sections and there is an additional rimmed tray which fits just inside below the tightly fitted lid. All 3 pieces are made from very tightly woven from 2 different types of plant materials...

22 inches long and a century of hard use but the tip is clean and sharp. I suspect a skilled carpenter could still use this old Chinese drill to build a cabinet or post and beam house. Personally, I am so thankful for electrical tools.

This antique pair of Chinese lotus shoes were worn by a woman in He Bei Province during the end of the 1800's. Small bits of Leather are nailed to the heals because the women of that time liked the sound of the heal hitting the floor as they walked. A delicate floral motif was carefully embroidered to both sides of each shoe.

there are no rips and no tears but clearly these shoes were worn numerous times.

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.

This old Sutra book is out of Tibet... original cover, strap, and pages, more pages than I want to count. size 6 inches x 2 inches 1.5 inches

Using these Chinese lotus-shaped lacquer tea saucers simplified passing and serving hot tea. Traditional Chinese symbols are delicately painted with copper color over a black lacquer background. There is a double happiness symbol at each end along with clouds, water waves and lucky bat symbol in the center. The back side is traditional Chinese red.

This Chinese lady's purse was made with silk satin fabric and hand embroidered with silk thread using a satin embroidery stitch. The edges are bound with carefully aligned silk threads. Each side opens to a separate storage compartment and there is a third compartment which is accessed from the top of the purse.

Made and used during the late Qing Dynasty, the quality of the materials and workmanship clearly show that this purse was used by a woman of means...

By the latter part of the 19th century the ruling Qings were obsessed with every last detail of dress. This antique top grain leather fan case could only have been owned by very wealthy Chinese woman.

This rare Qing Dynasty mirror folds flat for storage and traveling. The hand-carved wooden frame depicts bamboo stalks, and the mirror cover carving depicts an iris plant in full bloom. The cover drops forward and down thru the legs to the rear where it acts as a back support while the mirror is in use. Protected by a rear wood panel, the original silvered glass mirror does show its age...

This small Japanese case was most likely used for eyeglasses by a wealthy woman. The fine cloisonne work on both sides has slightly differed medallion patterns. Bird one one side butterfly on the other...There is s small sing (with lose on the bird side towards the edge...and the ding goes through to the inside of the case...piece is priced considering the damage...

This antique Chinese lock has a nicely patinated surface and is is working order. Measures 3.8 inches across.

This pair of traditional short boots were made and worn by the Miao women of Anshun. They are in very good condition but the upper boot areas have some soiling and the soles show signs of wear.

Traditional Chinese rural style pillow of bamboo. This pillow would be stored with legs folded under during the day. Good condition 16"x4" by 5" high with legs extended.

This Manchu style jacket is out of Northern China during the late Qing Dynasty...Hand loomed heavy weight cotton fabric with wool sleeve borders and embroidery trim. fits small woman...and makes an impressive wall display

This lovely hand carved old wooden loom pulley comes with is own custom made stand.

During the late 1800's and early 1900's eyeglasses became an important accessory for the Chinese. Upon seeing eyeglasses on visiting Western dignitaries and businessmen, the Chinese perceived and admired these "spectacles" as age enhancing. Not only did the eyeglasses improve eyesight...but they added age and dignity to the face of the wearer. Equating age with wisdom and respect, many Chinese took up the custom of wearing eyeglasses...

This adult female puppet is clothed in traditional Thai costume with a open shirt. All parts are hand-carved, tied and strung together, which gives the puppeteer lots of choices of movement. The face has eyes which can open and close independent of each other and the mouth can also be opened and closed. Head to toe, she measures is 21 inches tall and with the strings the total lenght is 34 inches...

This pair of Lotus Shoes have a lotus blossom embroidered on each side of the white silk vamp. Used and showing many signs of wear, they are also a bit are dirtier than they appear in the pictures. One of the leather heels is missing. They measure just a bit over 5" heel to toe tip...

Women of the Miao Chinese minority did not cut their hat...when the hair was worn "bun Style" on the top of the head, the comb would be positioned horizontally, with the tynes pushed under the "bun"...and the silver dangles would hang down...the actual "comb" is hand carved and covered with silver for decoration...

This antique iron candle holder was sourced from Shanxi province China. From a peasants home, it could be set on a table or hung on a wall. It is an interesting ethnographic folk art relic.

This is a charming traditional Chinese child's "wind hat" so called because of the protection the hat gives to the back of the neck. The silk threads of the satin stitched embroidery depict lots of flowers and butterflies. Hat is in good condition

Suspended from a small leather belt loop, this old Mongolian pipe pouch has trekked a long way. This ethnographic relic was clearly hand-made, with a simple closure of leather thongs tied into a traditional knot, and a few beads add a decorative element. For pipe cleaning, there is added piece of twisted metal wire decorated with green thread. Approx 12" long and about 3" at the widest point. It is a relic from a nomadic ethnic culture and its condition.....

Beautifully patterned horn chop with its horn seal box. The remenants of red ink indicate that this seal was used for official documents. The box has a slide top which closes tightly.

This unusual small triangular shaped snuff bottle 2 of the 3 sides of the piece have carefully repouse Tibetan symbols..no makers marks...a few tiny dents ...no loss. It was brought back from Tibet by a man who went on a long walkabout from Istanbul to Tibet back in the late 60's...China was not open at the time...and Tibet ..he traveled with a backpack,limited space,few small momentoes and he was picky...old pieces only... bottle is approx 1.75 inches high