Catalog (485)

Qing Dynasty Jadeite fastener, stung on a macramé cord. L:4.6c7/1.8in, W: 2.8cm/1.2in, and thickness .5cm/.2in. Nice simple old piece, probably dyed (of the period) to emulate an earlier Nephrite piece. Some “flea bites”. Free registered airmail shipping.

Nice old Cambodian “siri” box. This piece predates the Khmer Rouge regime and circa 60 or 70 years old. In good condition, this has an unusual 4 carved bamboo bands- most only have 1 or 2, so it is quite ornate There is no significant damage other expected signs of use and wear. In recent years Khmer lacquerware is making a comeback, however most of this is used for “home décor” export items, as far as I know no one is currently resurrected items for common household use. D: 2...

Quirky shallow bowls enclosed in pewter. The original blank dishes were imported from Japan and then decorated in Hong Kong. By the 1980s this trade died out due to rising property costs as well as the transitioning of the Hong Kong manufacturing sector to China. This pair is in excellent condition and perfectly matched with floral panels and medallions. These are also the only examples I have seen jacketed in pewter. D: 17cm/6.9in and H: 4cm/1.6in. Dated to 1970’s.

Old Chin tube skirt, circa 1950, from the Khumi subgroup in Burma. although deceptively simple is really extremely complex; please note in enlargements that the reverse side of this textile does not show any of the pattern on the front. This is made on a backstrap loom of very fine homespun cotton with a beaded fringe along the selvedge. Some stains and a few small holes. L: 180cm/71in and W: 44cm/17.2in

Nice old storage basket from the Lahu ethic group, Northern Thailand. This has a tough double layered weave with the outer wall made from rattan and the inner wall of bamboo strips. Lahu baskets are held in high regard by the other tribes in the area and were sold or traded to them. This is a genuine old tribal piece and not a tourist piece made for the home décor market. Acquired in 1990, and has been in storage since them a reasonable estimate on age would be 40 to 50 years old...

Magnificent lacquered basket with domed lid from the Karen ethnic group Northeast Thailand. The walls are constructed of strips of bamboo with rattan bindings and wooden base. The lid has one layer of woven bamboo with a tihck layer of natural lacquer while the lower half has a classic double layered wall with another coating of lacquer inside, which would have made this piece virtually water proof. Minor layers of lacquer loss in the interior, otherwise super fine condition. Circa 50 ye...

Very large Cambodian brown lacqered clothing box with beveled dome lid and rattan bindings. Nice old village construction circa 50 or 60 years old. Constructed from molded wood and in good condition except for minor loss to crenellated decoration around the base. D: 38cm/14.9in and H: 22cm/8.6in.

Exceptionally rare, handled drinking vessel from the Liao (Khitan) people, circa 907 CE to 1279 CE. There are very few Liao pottery pieces in collections today so this piece would of interest to anyone specializing in this period. Please note last enlargement for reference of a similarly shaped gilt silver piece dating form this period. This particular type of jar shows a much closer affinity with Central Asian cultures than the Han. There are two filled chips and crack on the handle, ...

Medieval English silver hammered, 1/2 groat, coin Henry the the Seventh, Canterbury Mint, crowned facing bust. 1485-1509CE. Diameter 15mm. Free shipping.

Beautiful commemorative medal, designed by Martin Holtzhey for William IV, Prince of Orange (1711-1751) and Princess Anne (1709-1759), celebrating the birth of Prince William V of Orange, Silver Medalet, 1748, , conjoined busts right, rev angel with infant child, 24mm. Free Shipping.

Group of three vintage household woven cane baskets acquired in Kandy, Sri Lanka in the 1990s. These were old at the time of acquisition so I would date them to around 50 years of age. Very sturdy and good condition. Dimensions: 1# 19in/48cm x 15/40cm, 2# 15in/38cm x 8in/20cm, 11in/28cm x 5.5in/14cm. Two have wood bases and tops while the the midsize one is covered in skin (I am guessing goat).

Beautiful silver coin from Bulgaria, Ivan Aelxander 1337-1371. Coin reverse: Ivan Alexander with one of his sons, co-emperor Michael Asen IV obverse: Christ standing. D: 17mm. i gram. Free shipping.

Elegantly simple burnished high fired pottery cup from Warring States to Early Han Dynasty. There is one crack and a couple of chips noted in last enlargements. Pretty much to be expected from an over 2000 year old pottery piece. D:9.9cm/3.9in and H: 7cm/2.7in.

Large pale green glazed plate with incised decoration, most likely from the Thantwe kiln near present day Rangoon, Burma. Excavated from the Tak Burial site near, Mae Sot along the Thai/Burmese border. This can be reliably dated to least 14th/16th centuries due to other known and datable ceramics from China and Thailand that were found in the same strata. There does not appear to be any cracks or breakage but there has been some restoration to glaze that has completely fritted off note...

Nice old Yao (also known as Mien) Taoist shaman “yen” chop, used to send messages to the Gods. Reference “The Yao” by Jess Pourret pgs 206 & 207. These came from the Sino/Lao Fansipan Mountains border area and date circa 80 to 90 years old. 3.6cm/1.4in x 3.6cm/1.4in x 3.6cm/1.4in. Free shipping.

Set of Qing Dynasty silver repoussé Chinese child’s hat ornaments. Very sweet little collection of 5 Budai and a lions face. Budai H: 2.9cm/1.1in and W: 2cm/o.8in and lion face D: 4.4cm/1.7in. The lion face has missing enamel on one ear. Free shipping via Hong Kong Registered Airmail.

Good Qing Dynasty nephrite archer’s ring. This is a small size and may be worn on the finger as a normal ring. Excellent condition, no chips or cracks- one naturally occurring inclusion. Outer D: 2.8cm, inner D: 2cm, and H: 2.2cm. Free shipping.

Sompote Sands, best known for directing Ultra Man, mega hit, block buster, cult classic, movie poster: The Magic Lizard, quite possibly the best movie starring a giant reptile since Godzilla. Good condition. L: 78cm/31.5in and 54cm/ 21.2cm. Released-1985.

Original movie poster of Beautiful Boxer, the poignant tale of transgender Muay Thai boxer Parinya Charoenphol who pursued the sport to pay for her sex change operation. According to “Whup Ass” magazine, this is considered the best under dog movie about boxing since Rocky! 2003. L: 78cm/31.5in and 54cm/ 21.2cm. Good condition.

80.00 Thai movie poster of Somote Sands grand epic “Krai Thong” (part two). Based on an ancient Thai myth, from Prichit Province of a crocodile king who could turn himself into a human and falls in love and kidnaps, human girl named Tapao Thong, a Thai version of beauty and the beast, a tale as old since the beginning of the fairytale. This is an original poster from 1985. Some wrinkles on the edges, but can be “ironed” out. L: 78cm/31.5in and 54cm/ 21.2cm.

Cambodian semi antique Khmer basket circa pre 1950. Excellent condition, with natural lacquer and some painted design. Woven with split bamboo it is still quite serviceable, please view enlargements to appreciate the detail of this weave- you will not find any genuinely old baskets in Cambodia anymore (or anywhere else for that matter). Dimensions: 27cm/11.8in diameter and 15cm/6in height. There is some damage to the footrim noted in last enlargement.

Good Korea Five Fun copper coin- 1898. Diameter: 26mm. Free shipping

Beautiful old Zhuang minority textile from Guangxi Zhuang/Guizhou province, China. Woven in two panels with silk embroidered “diamond and star” patterned border, "wanzi" swastika key fret and well symbols. There are small repairs noted in last enlargement minor fading on the left edge- all consistent with an old piece, some orange and brighter purple silk thread seem to be a later embellishment, indicating that this piece has been handed down several generations and highlights th...

Complete set of five Shan esoteric Buddhist images. These consist of a Buddha, three monks and a chedi. These are covered with traditional gold and back lacquer and the bodies are made from compressed powdered herbs or temple incense ash. They have a quirky abstract quality to them, their facelessness represents that the individual is inconsequential but has the potential for becoming a Buddha, on the bottom are the eight Burmese zodiac symbols based on the days of the week. For some r...

The larger one is. L: 106cm/41.8in and W: 59cm/23in. All the elements in this piece are hand made, even the ribbon along the border which is often machine made (even in old pieces)this piece has some old repairs The smaller one is has ablack calendered cotton cloth, and green commercial border, and fine silk embroidered center panel with hand woven silk embellished apron ties. . W: 40cm/15.8in and L: 43cm/17in. Free shipping Hong Kong Registered Airmail. Please examine enlragements fo...

Rare jacket back panel from the remote Miao Jiupang group from Jiahe County, Guizhou province (see last enlargement), with purple embroidered pattern between the spaces in the tin decoration. This style of decoration is unique to this group and very difficult to make, as every tiny bit of tin has to be individually cut and crimped. Recently acquired from a private Hong Kong collector, these are the first examples I have send of these I have seen in the past 15 years. There ...

Two strands of colorful and quirky glass bangle fragments drilled and reworked into beads. These are Persia, circa 6th CE - 7th CE which would make them late Sassanian Empire or early Islamic Era. L: 54cm/21.2in and 59cm/23.2in. See last enlargement for scale. Please note the tiny beads at the end are a combination of ancient Indo Pacific and Pyu glass beads. Free shipping via Hong Kong Registered Airmail.

Huge Pyu silver coin from Sri Ksetra, circa 6th/7th CE. There is some pitting on “bhadrapitha” side. Will clean up! D: 3.4cm/1.3in, approximately 11 grams. Free shipping via Hong Kong Registered Airmail.

Early 19th century lacquer box from the Gadu-Gadan region with domed top and bottom (philone gaunglone). There are 16 separate panels decorated with mythical beasts, dancers and quirky symbols on the side and bird pattern on the top and bottom. Please note last photo for reference which is dated 1850 (possibly earlier) from Lacquerware Journeys—Than Htun. The piece I have is actually far more intricate. It is extremely rare to see a piece of Burmese lacquer of this age outside of...

Very rare late 19th century small lacquer box with a bird in concentric circles on both concave top and bottoms unusual simple geometric designs on the side. For a box of this age, it is in very good condition some loss to lacquer on the edges and bottom of lid. For the specialist collector of Burmese lacquer ware. D: 10.1cm/4in and H: 7.1cm/2.8in.

Strand of “drum” shaped white glass beads from the Nyishi ethnic group of Aranchal Pradesh, north east India, strung on hand made hemp cord. These are old beads and will date them conservatively pre 1950, please note the two round shaped beads are Chinese “Peking” glass beads 19th century. A few have chips but 90% are in excellent condition. Total length 68cm/27in, please note these are all the same size, individually: D: 8mm- L: 6mm ea

Fine old rattan/bamboo splitting knife used in basket making. This has a great natural patina on the handle with decorated “butt”, circa first half 20th century. The blade still carries a sharp edge and is still quite serviceable. L: 44cm/17.2in (blade is 11cm/4.2cm). Excellent condition.

Finely detailed woman’s full length three paneled tube sarong from Ende, Flores Island, Indonesia. I bought this in 1988, this was used when I bought in Ende and has remained in storage since then. All natural dyes and handspun, hand woven cotton. Pristine condition with soft and comfortable weave. W: 150cm/59in and L: 1400cm/55in.

Phallic charm from Lamphun Northern Thailand- serendipitously enough, where they have an annual sausage festival. Originally these were worn by men at the waist and were thought to protect the wearer from any harm to his penis and in a more general sense they also are believed to bring luck especially in terms of “wealth generating or protection”, so a woman might be kept in your cash box to increase your cash flow or a woman might keep one in her purse to prevent it being “snatc...

Unsigned acrylic/oil portrait of a woman worker acquired from a Hong Kong auction. I am assuming this was painted while China and Russia were still friends so would date this pre 1960. Good example of Socialist Realism (girl meets tractor) kitsch, W: 35cm/13.8in and H: 45.cm/17.8in.

Lovely Chinese basket most likely woven by the Zhuang or another of the many ethnic minorities in Guangxi Zhuang, China where I bought this over 20 years ago. This woven from split reed stalks and has a nice soft feel to it. This piece is quite old, 50 to 100 years (best guess). It has an unusual trapezoidal/oval shape and I like it for its sturdy simplicity. Minor unraveling of some of the weaves here and there but in very good condition given it age. H: 14cm/5.5in and L: 24cm/.5in...