Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art (482)

This apron is from the Huan Xi area and was part of the traditional Miao ethnic minority woman's festival costume. Made from home spun fibers,indigo dyed yarn, it is embroidered with tiny intricate cross stitch geometric design...the ties are also hand woven. The apron measures approx 17 x 17 inches and is in good condition...with a few very light stains which do not show on photo with enhancing...

This small elaborate Buddhist monk's medicine bottle is sewn into a larger pouch of burgundy homespun wool fabric with yellow/gold silk lining. When worn, the stopper would be securely held in the bottle by a system of handmade cords and bands. The medicine bottle would be worn outside the robes and suspended on the Monk's belt. These were used for both travel and ceremonies.

This box is covered with unusually fine cloisonne work. the four sides and top all have the same design motif. Nicely hinged at the back and sits on 4 separate ball feet. excellent condition, measured 4.5 inches x 2.5 inches x 1.5 inches.

Strand of Tuareg seed pod prayer beads from the region of Timbuktu, Mali. A talisman is added on with handmade cord and decorated with elephant hairs (from tail) and cowrie shells. The original cord was broken long ago and a few seed pods are missing. The original cord has been left in place and I have added a second strand to keep the strand together.

Two Standing Ladies in Waiting for palace display and one lady seated for tea service. Standing ladies are 5.5 inches tall and the one seated is 3.5 tall

This intricate floral embroidery panel may have been part of a larger piece which probably predates the carved frame that now houses the panel. The background silk is a rich dark brown and the ornate floral display can be positioned either horizontally or vertically. During the framing process, sometime between 1900-1920, The fragment was glued to a cardboard backing...where it remains today... 10.5 inches x 23 inches includes frame

This old Japanese hand made sack (basket,bag) was made by a rural farmer or fisherman out of cotton cording. Handle holes were worked into the upper band which would have allowed for the changing of worn out handles. There is obvious wear and fading from use and age. The bag measures almost 11 x 15 inches It is Wonderful old ethnographic example of rural Japanese textile folk art

Rare Chinese form, this Chinese chalice is from the late Qing Dynasty period. The dome shaped lid is topped with a gold finial. The surface of the piece is covered with cloisonne pattern. There is a floral design in black and brown which is offset against a background filled with a fretwork pattern. The chalice with its matching lid stands 9 inches tall.

The metal bottom of the chalice is stamped with the word China. This dates the piece between 1890 and 1914. It was the U.S...

This is an antique Chinese set of carved bone dominoes, complete with dice and original wooden box. Carved by hand sometime in the Qing dynasty, the 32 dominos vary abit in shape, size and thickness and the bone dice are a bit off cube.

The box is just under 5 inches x 2.5 inches x 1.5 inches.

This rural Mongolian bucket is made from lemon wood and was used daily to draw water from the local village well. Truely an ethnographic relic with original iron fittings, and evidence of constant use and old repairs. It is both large and heavy. The diameter of the bucket is 18" and the bucket alone is 14" deep, add another 11" for the handle and iron toggle fitting. The weight is approx 15 lbs. Originally made about 250 yrs ago and probably used constantly for a couple of centuries.

Nicely aged patinated Japanese old ivory letter opener or possibly a page turner with carved and dyed lizard making its way up the handle. The piece is 9.5 inches long and .5 inches wide. It is slightly doomed across the width and the "blade" section is sharpened on one side... Really a lovely piece.

This well worn pair of Woman's Lotus shoes for bound feet are from the later part of the Qing Dynasty about 1870-1880. The vamp fabric is red cotton with a matching floral embroidery pattern on each side. The delicate hand stitching detail clearly shows the pride taken by the owner/maker. The soles are short of the toe vamp which was done to give the wearer a more floating and sensual appearance when walking.

This traditional embroidered vest was made and worn by the woman of the Miao minority culture living in the Ge Jia region of China generations ago. The textile fabric was hand woven with a specific thread count to allow for the geometric embroidery pattern which was added later.

These 3 collars were originally the collar portion and were sewn to a lower section to forming a child's pinafore... Home spun yarns intricately hand woven with hand embroidered details... sold either separately or together as a collection

This antique small iron mortar fits easily into the closed hand was used for grinding medicinal herbs. The pestle is attached with a hand made chain. Sourced from Maharasha, India...great aged patina.

Barely used, this baby head cover was once attached to the upper part of a baby carrier so that it could be raised around the baby's head to protect it from the hot sun during a festival. Hand batiked with hand embroidered details, the border is decorated with rows of the tiniest hand stitching. measures 13.5 x 14.5 inches

Antique Chinese summer court hat complete with red silk tassels which extend down from the finial to cover the hat. Officials would use their "court" hat for non-formal ceremonies or daily businesses. The finial would be added to the hat during formal court ceremonies held by the Emperor...

This heavy wooden pillow was hand carved from a block of hard wood. A relic of the Qing dynasty during the 1800's, it would have been used more as a head rest, i.e. supporting the back of the neck so that the hair style remained undisturbed. It is carved into a series of graceful curved forms and the finish has a wonderful pattern of wear and patina. 11.5 inches x 4 x 3.25 weight 2 lbs