Catalog: Antiques (488)

A bride of the Yi Chinese Ethnic Minority in Yunnan Province, would have worn the "cock" hat for her wedding day. The hat is made using layers of cotton fabric with a stiffiner between the layers to maintain the shape. Using colorful cotton thread, hat was extravagantly hand embroidered. A few traditional silver ornaments including the bubble, flower and butterfly were added.

Now, it is the very lucky Yi girl who can use her great grandmother's bridal hat for her own wedding...

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.

The outside of this antique perfume bottle, from Afghanistan, is covered with silver metal which has a detailed, etched and fire polished design. The bottom of the bottle reveals it lapis lazuli interior liner...bottle is approximately 4 inches tall

The 5 musicians from palace set of Girls Day Hina Dolls...the 2 musicians in the rear are are seated on stools are each 4.5 inches tall. The 3 seated on the floor are 3.5 inches tall

This is a traditional style full length silk robe, aka Chapan, from Uzbekistan/Tajikistan area. The pattern was made using an ikat dye technique, and the robe is padded and machine quilted. Excellent condition, shows very little wear...stunning

This is a pair of old chinese handmade boots which were brought back to the US by an American missionary. In China, it was a woman's responsibility to make shoes for the entire family. This pair was made of cotton fabric, using traditional Chinese techniques. Being slightly padded, they were probably for winter use. They are in excellent condition...an authentic and interesting artifact of old China.

This charming pair of old Chinese lotus shoes were made from a sturdy cotton fabric and embroidered with cotton thread. The lack of silk matterials would indicate that the maker/wearer was probably from a less afluent family. The soles indicate are well worn but the vamps are in very good condition.

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...

He is charming...well detailed leaning on a pillows ...a few nicks and bruises to the finish as to be expected at this age...roughly 4 inches tall and 6 inches wide...

This Miao woman's jacket has hand embroiled detail collar, front lapel, and sleeve bands...background fabric of the body of the jacket feels like rayon but maybe silk...sleeves are heavy cotton... there is small hole 1/2 inch (looks like cigarette) on the back left side roughly 2-3 inches from hem... this jacket will fit a small woman... this style of woman's jacket is from the shidong area of Tia jiang...

Several of the Southeast Asian hilltribes from the "Golden Triangle" region would practice tattooing as body art and religious ritual. This Burmese tattoo tool with the figure head was used to scratch the skin surface and apply the dye.

Pair of black satin weave cotton fabric with white silk satin stitched thread embroidered floral design. very good condition. Each panel measures 7" x 29" Embroidered section measures 4"X 19"

This unusual Japanese lacquer clam shell is from Wakasa, a center for exceptional lacquer craftsmanship which began during the Edo period. At that time the lacquerers of the Obama clan, near Wakasa Bay, began decorating their work with designs depicting elements of the ocean floor, For techniques, the Wakasa craftsmen developed a process of repeated lacquer coatings of several colors and rubbing down the lacquer coated surface...

Very nice old Maru Japanese Obi in excellent condition. Neutral colors throughout the delicate weave of repeat scenes of cart

This antique pair of spectacles folds into the space of a single eyeglass for easy carrying. Lacking ear pieces, they rest on the nose, hence the name pince nez. The rims are tortoise shell.

This antique Chinese small wooden tobacco container would have been looped on a belt. It is probably ethnic minority, and hand carved by its intended user. Such folk art artifacts are now rare and hard to find on the market.

Measures 3 inches tall, and comes with original hand twisted cord, and is in very good condition

this old set of books was originally held together into a single volume with a cover.. The cover is now clearly falling apart and the books are all tied together with a leather cord probably done sometime in the 50's. Each volume covers a different aspect of law...civil, criminal etc... There is a very faded red seal on the front page...the photo of the seal has been enhanced to hopefully make it more readable... Lots of Chinese characters used throughout the text...

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.