Catalog: Archives: Regional Art (212)

Tang official's bronze seal of the 2nd rank. Size: 2.3 x 2cm. H. 1cm. Condition: No repairs. Nice patina.

A lucky jade carved in the form of a lock. The front carved with a large peony and the back carved with the words for prosperity, good luck etc. Should be worn as a good luck pendent. Size: W. 5.8cm. H. 4cm. Condition. Perfect

A rear and large lacquered manuscript chest. These chests were essential to every monastery as the stored Buddhist scriptural texts. Size: L. 61cm. W. 17.6cm. H. 15cm. Condition: Normal wear. One leg has been replaced. See photo.

A pear-shaped vase freely painted with foliate designs in a dark chocolate brown glaze over a white slip. The slightly flared footrim is also painted in dark chocolate brown. Comes with a certificate from an auction in Beijing. Period: Song (10th Century) Size: Height = 22.5 cm (8-7/8") Condition: A very small chip at the foot-rim.

Large Tibetan wooden prayer beads from Lhasa with nine glass bead spacers and two leather counters with ten silver rings each ending with silver inlaid coral and turquoise, the wooden ones are made from the wood of the Bodhi tree where Buddha received his enlightenment. Total length 66cm. Condition: No repairs all original.

A miniature neolithic pottery jar with fishnet pattern and outlined in black separated by fields of X patterns. Attached to the rim are two lug handles. Age:Hongshan Culture, 2nd half to 3rd millennium BC. Size: H. 9cm. Rim Radius 9cm. Condition: No repairs. Few chips from age.

A jade of a chimera (mythical animal. The light grey-green nephrite jade has areas and spots of beige and dark brown natural that are to the stone. The animal is tilting its head to the left and is open-mouthed showing it's teeth and curled tongue. Period: Late Ming, Early Ching (17th/18th Century) Size: H = 3-1/2", Length = 5-3/4"

An important thangka depicting the succession of Dalai Lamas to the large one in the center of that period. The central image is surrounded by a host of guardian deities, bodhisattvas, asparas and symbolic animal figures. Size: L. 97cm. W. 72.7 cm. Inside measurement. Condition: No repairs, rips or tears on the painting. Some fraying of the silk, framing the artwork.

This is an official's seal for the Imperial Court for documents for minority people during the Tang Dynasty. Age:618 - 907 AD Size: 3.2 x 3.3cm. Condition: No repairs

A nicely carved brown jade fish in the Eastern Zhou style. The fish is symbolically employed as the emblem of wealth or abundance on account of the similarity in the pronunciation of the words "yu", fish, and "yu", superfluity. I date this piece to be early Han. Size: L.5.5cm. W.2cm. Condition: No repairs ,chips or cracks.

Rare dagger from Tibet. The bronze phurbu features a crowned Buddha. The blade part features a the head of a makara (marine monster). Period: 12th century to 15th century.Size: 13cm. Condition: very good. Check "Arts of Asia" May-June 1989 issue.

A mini Shan red lacquerware covered receptacle. Unusual to find these types in this size. It still has some dried flowers that came with the item. Age: Early 20th century. Size: H. 19.5cm. W. 8cm. Condition: No repairs. Some minor chips around the rims.

A late 19th - early 20th century "Yun" lacquered betel box with incised design of two horses and riders, elephant and dancers. The box is divided into three pieces. The bottom part for betel leaves and the top part for lime, areca nuts, clove and other ingredients. Size: H. 10.5cm. Diameter. 21cm. Condition: No repairs. Some age cracking.

A pottery whistle in the form of an unusual face with its lips puckered as if whistling. The top of the whistle has green and brown glazes (sansai glaze) - the bottom is unglazed. The glaze has a very fine crackle. Under magnification, tiny pits can be seen on the fine crackle, which is consistent with the appearance of glazes for pieces of this period.

Period: Tang (618 - 907 AD)

Size: Height = 3.9 cm

Condition: Good condition. No breaks...

A charming brushpot inlaid with mother-of-pearl, ivory and hardstones. The inlay work is of branch with flowering plum blossoms. The back has a poem of archaic Chinese characters inlaid in silver. The wood is a dark hardwood (unidentified) of a slightly reddish tint.

Period: 18th Century

Size: Height = 12.5 cm (4-7/8 inches, Width = 9 cm.(3-1/2 inches)

Condition: Good condition. Slight age crack-which is part of the beauty-at the bottom part (under the plum blossoms)...

An unusual double headed silver dragon bracelet with both dragons chasing the elusive pearl connected by alternating bands of plain and textured links. Age: Mid 19th century. Size: Inside diameter. 6.5cm. Condition; No repairs. Normal wear.

Four gilded wooden statues comprising of two Buddhas,a Disciple and a Monk. Sizes: Length, 9.4 to 7.6 cm. Condition: Perfect.

An Old group of Bodhi wooden prayer beds made from the wood of the Bodhi tree where Buddha received his enlightenment. These beads were purchased in Lhasa many years ago. Condition: No repairs. Size: 42 cm.

Two round and one boomerang shape ancient glass beads. Two round ones are a pale sea green and the larger one aqua blue. Size: Small: 1.8cm. Middle: 2.8cm. Large: 3.8cm. Condition: Perfect.

A "Saddle-gourd" flask shaped after a leather prototype with a vertical spout and saddle handle. Age:11th century. Size: 23.4cm.high. Condition: No repairs . Normal kiln marks. One of a pair.

A rare ancient gold ring with a natural brown stone. This ring is over 1,000 years old. Weight: 3.50 grams

A bamboo brush pot carved in relief of a sage in contemplation wearing a flowing robe surrounded by nature - the hills are carved in relief while trees, grasses and flowers are etched around him. To his right side is a feather fan. There is a signed poem about his feather fan inscribed to the left of the carvings. It is a serene, well proportioned, beautifully carved piece. Period: Late 19th Century Size: Height = 15.7 cm (6-1/8 inches), Diameter = 11.25 cm (4-3/8 inches)

Tibetan wooden prayer beads with three glass coral colored beads as separators from Lhasa. There are 108 beads. The wooden beads are made from the wood of the Bodhi tree where Buddha received his enlightenment. Size: Total Length 30cm. Condition: No repairs

A beautiful large blue & white charger painted in the style of early Yuan blue and white. The back of the charger has etched on it the name of a Temple that it once belonged to. Size: Diameter. 46.3 cm. W. 8.9cm. Condition: Perfect.

A rare black and white Ching jade of a sleeping cat. Black and white jades are very rare and the carver uses the two colors to fit the carving making a beautiful black and white cat. It has a hole drilled at the tail and can be worn as a pendant. Size: L. 4.00cm, W. 2.5cm. Condition: No chips or repairs.

A ceremonial cylinder used by Senior Monks to send letters to each other. The animal in the panel is a "balu-gwin" Size: H. 33.5 cm. Base diameter: 5.8cm. Condition: Normal wear, no repairs.

A rare and unusual bronze seal written in the ancient Tibetan language. Size: 2.9 x 2.6cm Condition: Nice patina. The finial has a piece missing.

A lacquered Buddha figure holding a bowl seated on a high lotus pedestal. This meditating Buddha has a very gentle and calming face. The open area in the back is missing its former relics.

Period: Ming - 17th Century

Size: Height: 30.2 cm

Condition: The lacquer is worn due to its age but the patina is beautiful. There are traces of gilding on the lacquer.

A very rare Tibetan cabinet with many animal figures,religious items and scenes. Size: H. 75.5cm. W. 47.8cm. D. 33.5cm Condition: Normal wear.No repairs.

A bronze seal belonging to a Han General. The impression represents the symbol for gold. Size: W. 2.4 x 2.4cm. H. 2.7cm. Condition: Nice patina.

Chinese white jade form of a kneeling boy beating a drum. Period: Ching (19th Century) Size: H=3", W=3-3/4" Condition: very good

A pair of mythical animals (mother and child) of a creamy jade color. It has small areas of natural brown, light orange and grey coloration and inclusions. The jade is beautifully carved and feels lovely to the touch. The curled tail of the smaller animal forms a round hole which enables a thin rope to be put through it. Absolutely endearing. Period: Early Ching (18th Century) Size: H = 1-3/4", W = 3-3/8"

One hundred herbs prayer bead bracelet from the boarder town between China and Tibet. These type of prayer bead is believed to be good for curing all types of sickness. The beads are made by compressing 100 herbs into a ball. There are 18 beads in all. Age: Pre 1920. Size: inside radius 7cm. It is stringed with a new stretch string to fit all. Condition: Very good for its age.

A pair of iron Tibetan Phurbu Daggers. The top of the handles have four expressive faces of very good workmanship crowned with human skulls.The handle has a double lotus and eternal knots on each end.Above the blades there is a makara. Size: L. 21.7cm each. Condition: No repairs. Nice patina

A rare ancient agate bead made for wearing as a pendent or necklace. These beads date back to over 2,000 years. They have some kind of tiger influence in their shape and stripes.. Size: 4.2cm X 2cm. Condition: No breaks.

A Cizhou ceramic pillow with an ivory colored glaze which continues to a little above the base. The center of the headrest is painted fluidly with a floral spray in a brown iron pigment while a loose band of three freely incised lines encircle the flower. The base is left unglazed. Period: Song (10th Century) Size: Width = 23.5 cm (9-1/4 inches) Condition: No chips, cracks or repairs. Some loss of the glaze on both top edges.

A nice jade "bi" disk carved in the Han Dynasty style with dots and "c" scrolls. Color is a transparent light pale celadon. It shows up darker in the photos. Age:Late Ming. Size: Diameter.5.3cm. Condition. Some minor chips on the rim.

Large table top scholar's huanghuali chest with all it's original hardware. This is an early Ming piece as the huanghuali wood is quite thick. In later Ming pieces the wood was reduced in thickness as the huanghuali became scarcer. The hardware is typical early Ming. It is 100% original except for the inner tray that was probably added later. Size: L. 41.5cm. W. 24.6cm. H. 19.3cm. Condition: Normal ageing.

A translucent nephrite jade "bi" of a very light cream color (off-white). Both the front and reverse are beautifully carved with the same design of a variety of "curl" designs. Period: (17th- 18th Century) Size: Outer Diameter = 2-1/4" Condition: Perfect. Color in photo has a blue tone but it is actually white.

A rare and colorful Temple prayer carpet from Lhasa Tibet of two dragons chasing the elusive flaming pearl. Late 19th century. Size: L.155 cm. W. 82.3cm. Condition: No repairs.

A very rare Ming hair ornament made of four jade goldfish and a cicada held together by gold wiring made up of a butterfly and floral design. It originally had turquoise colored king fish feathers inlaid in the design.It also has the original metal wiring holding it together. Size: H. 5.5cm. W. 5cm. Jades average 2 cm. Condition: Normal ageing on the metal parts.

A globular bodied vase painted in dark reddish brown on a white slip. The main body has three large sprays of flowers. A large brown band encircles the shoulder and below the floral sprays are several thin bands - some straight and some wavy. Typical of this type. Period: Song (10th - 11th Century) Size: Height 25 cm Width 20 cm.

Vajrapāni (Sanskrit: "Vajra in [his] hand") is one of the earliest-appearing bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism. He is the protector and guide of Gautama Buddha and rose to symbolize the Buddha's power.He also is know to protects the wearer. Condition: Natural age patina. No repairs. Size: See last photo

Huanghuali brushpot with original finish. Late Ming early Qing. Size: H.14cm. Diameter: 14.2cm. Condition: No repairs.

Brown jade pig dragon also known as Zhulong in Chinese. These pieces are extremely rare. Probable a later type but not a fake. It is well carved and would make a nice pendant. Size: L. 7.5cm, W. 5cm

A natural amber pendant of a good fortune frog (toad) with the underside having a string of coins for wealth. The bottom has a hole for stringing. Size: L. 3.8cm. W. 3.3cm. Condition: No repairs.

Two Rosewood boxes with flying bats, a symbol of good luck, surrounded by keyfrets and stylized clouds. Age: 19th century. Size: lg.12cm. sm. 10.5cm. Condition: No repairs.

Large wooden prayer beads from Lhasa with nine glass bead spacers and two leather counters with ten silver rings each ending with silver inlaid mountain coral and turquoise.The wooden ones are made from the wood of the Bodhi tree where Buddha received his enlightenment. Total length of the beads 76cm. This does not include the counters. Condition: All original.

A sansai-glazed Tang Dynasty pottery tripod censer. Most sansai-glazed pottery include green and amber glazes - this vessel is glazed in blue and amber glazes. Blue sansai-glazed pottery is very rare since the blue color was made from cobalt imported from the Middle East and was very expensive at the time. Blue cobalt glazed sancai pieces go for much higher prices because of the preciousness of the ingredient and how scarcely it was used...

A blue glazed Song vase of unusual color for Song pieces. Size: H. 18.8cm. W. 15cm. Condition: No repairs

A bentwood bamboo bracelet with a silver work band of a floral design. The two knots in the bamboo have carved stylized dragons. Age: Early 1900's. Size: Diameter. Inside 7.3cm. Outside 8.8cm. Condition: Very good.No repairs.

A well carved and unusual jade carving of a little boy in a reclining position. Age: 19th century. Size: See last photo. Condition: No repairs.

A unusual rare well carved jade pendant with a stylized head of a Zhou pig on top and tapering down into a fang or a claw.. The upper part of the jade is of a black and tan color and the tail is translucent. There is a hole at the back of the mouth for stringing. Size: L. 4.7cm. W. 1.2cm. Condition: See last photo.