Catalog (496)

19th century colonial glass trade beads from Venice, red “white hearts”. Lovely color, the images don’t do it justice. Originally sourced from Papua New Guinea. Note enlargements, for scale and condition.Total Length: 62cm/24.4in. Free shipping.

Very fine, signed, men’s blanket from the Biboki, Feotle'u area West Timor, Indonesia. The the name of the weaver’s family, were woven into this. W: 114cm/44.8in and L: 186cm/73in, except for the yellow and blue lines this is woven from all naturally dyed handspun thread. Dating circa 1950 to 1960.

Tibetan yak butter tea “po cha” or barley beer “chang” bowl carved from burlwood, possibly Rhododendron circa 50 to 100 years old. D:11.8cm/4.6in and H: 5cm/1.9in, there is one worn chip on the edge. A charming old piece- difficult to find these days. This was not turned on a lathe, but entirely carved by hand.

Ensemble of three vintage carved horn seals in Kaishu script. The larger ones are made from buffalo horn while the smaller one is made from antelope horn and quite rare. See enlargements for scale. Free shipping.

Beautiful hand-woven hem from a woman’s skirt from the Tai Moei ethnic group of Sam Neua Province, Laos. This piece is only about 30 years old but the colors in the silk threaded center field are absolutely gorgeous. This piece is still sewn together and in excellent condition. H: 43.cm/17in and W: 59cm/23in (x2). Free shipping.

Colorful hand woven beaded shoulder cloth from the Batak people, Sumatra. This piece is quiet lively and complicated with gold treads, and large “Rasta” colored diamond patterned warp embroidered bands. The “Dame Madi Hita” is Batak language and is embroidered on both sides of the center which refers to a blessing bestowed by the giver to the recipient. Ulos cloths play an important role in Batak communities in that they are ritually used to express affection and sincerity be...

Special Offer: Two Ming porcelains- 1# Simple Ming bowl with impressionist depiction of a cobalt blue underglaze vase with flowers. Perfect original condition, with a classic Ming Period “Bi” shaped footrim. There is one small unglazed spot on the edge of the bottom of the rim, this not a chip. D: 9.1cm/3.6in and H: 3cm/1.2in. 2# Lovely small Ming, blue and white jar, very thinly potted with simple floral scroll pattern. Perfect condition, H: 7.4cm/2.9in and D: 6.2cm/2.5in.

Antique wedding blanket, circa late 19th CE/early 20th CE, from the Bouyi/Buyi (possibly Zhuang) China. This is tightly woven in three panels, from very fine handspun cotton thread with a silk floss yarn supplementary weft “well” pattern. The black cotton lattice gives the overall pattern depth. The wide woven-in border has a “wanzi” swastika meander pattern that seamlessly transitions from the black cotton to silk pastel. There is a simple repair on the edge (noted in enlarge...

Fine and rare, large copper repousse and chased copper plate depicting a religious scene or narrative. This was acquired in Sri Lanka in the 1990s, the vendor said this was showing the life of Buddha, but the iconography suggests it is most likely Hindu as the central image is shown facing the left, sitting on a tiger pelt, set against a foliate scroll background. This could be representing Shiva with his consort Parvati and son Ganesh. Superb workmanship, circa 19th century. Diame...

Unsorted ungraded lot of 14 Dutch East India copper VOC coins. The coins pictured are the coins you will get. See 2nd enlargement for scale. Free shipping

Women’s three paneled silk dress circa 1970 to 1990, hand woven from Bhutan. Minor fraying along one side where as well some pinholes and stains. L: 2.3m/90in and W: 1.43m/56in.

Fine old Yao embroidery with Chinese characters, from the Kin Mun Lantien subgroup Yunnan/Vietnam. This piece is in excellent condition with no damage, but the indigo has “bled” and is circa early 20th century. It is made from all handspun cotton with an intense indigo dye. These are documented in the Jess Pourret book “The Yao”. Embroidered patch W: 14cm/5.5in and L: 20cm/7.9- with fringe 139cm/54in. Free shipping.

Subtle nephrite “pebble” jade stone with original russet skin highlights, from Xinjiang. It has been polished on one side to achieve symmetry but other then that this is the original natural shape. This has a silver ring sp it may be hung on a chain. Untreated Hetian/Khotan jade is quite difficult to come across these days. Free shipping via Hong Kong Registered Airmail. L: 4.6cm/1.8in, W: 2.5cm/1in and thickness: 1.3cm/0.5in.

Silver Nepali mohar, from the reign of Prithvi Narayan Shah circa 1768-1775CE. VG. D: 29mm, 6 grams.

Silver Nepal, Mohar Bhupatindra Malla, mohar circa 1696-1722CE. D: 28mm, 6grams. VG. Free shipping.

Well made old storage basket, circa 1950s, acquired in Lombok, Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia in the 1980s this has been in storage since then. This has a slight trapezoidal shape to the lid and body. Excellent condition- no damage. Top- W: 24cm/9.5in x 21.5cm/8.4in and H: 9.5cm/3.8in.

Rare late 19th/early 20th century Thai tobacco/betel box, with original inner tray. Minor losses to lacquer and the footrim repaired and replaced. Stunning delicate deep dark red and black floral scroll pattern. D: 19.5cm/7.8in and H: 7.4/2.9in.

Fine old Shan Burmese lacquer box, circa early 20th century with one tray and depicting monkeys playing in foliate background. This piece is a real classic beauty (IMHO). There are a couple of repairs at the edge of the rim noted in enlargements as well as craclature on the surface and nicks around the foot. H: 19.2cm/7.6in and D: 22cm/8in.

Qing dynasty Burmese Jadeite cylinder shaped toggles/beads. I am unsure as to the their original use, possibly seals. One is a little bigger than the other. 2cmx 1.6cm and 2.1cm x 1.8cm, 27 grams. Free shipping.

1789 VOC Dutch East Indies 2 Stuiver copper coin from the Galle mint, D: 24mm and 24 grams. Free shipping.

Mixed lot of old German pfennig (pennies) total 22. There oldest one is 1875, the most recent is 1943. A lot of history here, free shipping.

Fine old lacquerware antique, cylindrical box, possibly Karen or Shan, from North Thailand, with rattan bindings, these are becoming increasing difficult to find these days. Some loss of lacquer on the surface. H: 15cm/5.8in and D: 7.3cm/2.8in.

Heirloom wedding blanket cover from the tiny Maonan ethnic minority of Guangxi, China. First half of the 20th century-made with natural undyed local cotton with the pattern with made from floss silk supplementary brocade weft symbols of phoenix, flowers and butterflies, and is in perfect condition with no holes or tears. Some of the more brightly colored purple aniline dyed silk threads have been rewoven into the patterns probably within the last 40 years but are certainly not new. Thi...

CILICIAN ARMENIA- HETOUM I AND ZABEL, 1226-1271 CE, silver tram, OBV. ZABEL & HETOUM; REV. LION AND CROSS. Diameter : 17mm and 3 grams. Free shipping.

Very long strand of made in Boshan, Shandong Province, Chinese wound glass trade beads 114cm/48in. Average D: 7mm/.25in. These were acquired in Northern Thailand in the 1980s, these should date to 1950 or earlier, the opaque white beads in the strand are Qing Dynasty. This type of bead was widely traded throughout Southeast Asia for centuries and amongst the Akha people considered to be heirlooms. Free shipping via Hong registered airmail. Great for bead designers.

Two bone “knives” from the Golden Triangle. I acquired these in Chiang Mai Thailand about 20 years ago and was told that were used by a “hill tribe”, for ritual ceremonies that involved the symbolic letting of blood to heal the patient. Using bones in spiritual practices is a syncretic tradition in this region as the boundaries between Buddhism and the earlier Animist practices are blurred and seem to work in harmony with one another. These are old genuine old Shaman’s artif...

Classic long sleeved silk brocade cheongsam aka qipao. This is all hand tailored and hand sewn, definitely not off the rack. Beautiful floral pattern (lotus, chrysanthemum, and pomegranate blossoms) with foliate scrolls, this pattern can be traced back to Ming Dynasty blue and white porcelain. The zipper has come off the track other than that perfect condition. See enlargements for dimensions. Clean but could use a steam press. More dimensions can be provided for a serious buyer.

Superb antique lacquered bamboo woven box from the Lisu ethnic minority, Northern Thailand. This piece is in good condition with minute losses to lacquer but perfect woven body. Please view enlargements to appreciate the fine detail on this, also note that this double walled. L: 11.cm/4.2in, H: 5.5cm/2.3in and W: 6.5cm/2.5in.

Unusual example of a Ming glass flower, emulating Nephrite jade, this would have sewn onto a piece of clothing or a hat as a kind of jewelry. This appears to have been cast from a mold, the edges are surrounding by tiny chips- most likely these were cast in groups and cut off from the single sheet. There was lot of dirt on this piece when I acquired it indicating this is an excavated piece, I have cleaned it up the best I could. Really old Chinese glass is quite rare due to its fragili...

Matched pair of late Qing Dynasty Beijing Milk Glass Bangles emulating Burmese Jade. These have an opalescent glow, with each having a tiny Jade green splash on the side. Made for the “poor folks” these are hand pulled- made from a straight piece, wound and quickly fused together. The glass has a lot of tiny bubbles (like a glass of champagne) and they are both in excellent condition. No chips, scratches or breaks. Outer diameter: 73mm, inner diameter: 55mm. Diameter of the glass: ...

Fine and rare old rattan “tali” basket with a contracted mouth from the Idu Mishmi ethnic group of Arunachal Pradesh, India. In India they are primarily animist but in China where they are known as the Lhoba they have a strong spiritual affiliations with Tibetan Buddhism. Google “Bamboo and Cane Culture of Arunchal Pradesh” and you will get a good description of this regional craft. As Sino/Arunachal Pradesh border is disputed with China (it should be noted this where the Dalai...

Hetian nephrite jade pendant with illegible archaic script incised on the surface. Cut from the edge of a jade boulder, this piece has a natural shape and “organic” feel. The russet highlights are attractive but artificially induced. H: 7.7cm/3in and W: 3.8 /1.5in- 29 grams.

Hetian nephrite jade pendant with illegible archaic script incised on the surface. Cut from the edge of a jade boulder, this piece has a natural shape and “organic” feel. The russet highlights are attractive but artificially induced. H: 5.4cm/2.2in and W: 3.3cm/1.3in- 33 grams.

Wholesale lot of 50 vintage jadeite crosses (plus a few odd leftover bits). These were carved in the 60s through the 80s, and each cross consists of three pieces, meaning they will have to be remounted in would or metal. The jade is fairly good quality and is not dyed, some have small splashes of apple green. May be incorporated into secular jewelry, ideal for a jewelry maker. Lengths vary between 2.2cm and 5.cm

Wholesale lot of 100 pieces Jade Bi, vintage to antique Burmese jadeite. Diameters: 23mm to 17mm, hole diameter 6-7mm. These are untreated stones i.e., not dyed with original natural color. Total weight: 269 grams. These “stand alone” pieces and may be worn individually. Excellent for a “bricks and mortar” shop or jewelry designer.

Wholesale lot of 100 pieces Jade Bi, vintage to antique Burmese jadeite. Diameters: 23mm to 17mm, hole diameter 6-7mm. These are untreated stones i.e., not dyed with original natural color. Total weight: 258 grams. These “stand alone” pieces and may be worn individually. Excellent for a “bricks and mortar” shop or jewelry designer,

100.00 Rare 1787 British East India Penang half cent coin, Balemark series. D: 17mm, weight 4 grams. Free shipping.

Sarawak, one cent coin 1896, H (Birmingham mint). D: 28mm, weight 9 grams.

One Cent coin, British North Borneo- an independent kingdom founded by the legendary Rajah Brooks. 1890- love the dayaks holding a parang and shield. D: 27mm, weight: 9 grams. Free shipping.

2 Pice copper coin, Straits Settlements- British East India Company. D: 29mm, weight 19 grams. Free shipping.

Collection of 5 tin and lead alloy Cambodia French Protectorate Era gaming coins, from the crica 19th century. All in good condtion except for one the small one that is a bit corroded. Sizes in enlargements. Free shipping.

Nice heavy Jadeite Bi with subtle green and lavender highlights. There is a crack running all the way through it, an enterprising jeweler could cut this in half and have two usable attractive pieces. D: 5.1cm/2in and 91mm/36in thick. 66 grams. Free shipping via Hong Kong international registered mail.

Old rattan/bamboo splitting knife used in basket making. The blade still carries a sharp edge and is still quite serviceable. L: 65cm/25.5 (blade is 18.5cm/7.5in). Good condition, the blade has some surface rust but is till sound and solid.

Good silk textile with tiger embroidery- all the threads are silk except the black. This was acquired in 1991 and has been sitting in a box ever since then. W: 69cm/27in x L: 149cm/58.5in

Beautiful old classic Lao shoulder clothe, all natural dyes with hand spun silk threads. I picked this up on my first trip to Laos in the mid 1990s, at the Talat Sao Market, Vientiane and would date this to the 1970/80s. The fabric is incredibly soft and supple and may be worn (it is amazingly warm) as a scarf or hung as wall art. It has a few loose threads on the selvedge but otherwise in excellent condition with no holes or tears. W: 38cm/15in and L: 243cm/8ft. Free shipping via...

Lovely small meiping from Northern China, circa 1000CE- possibly Liao.. I have repaired it with epoxy and 23k gold leaf (wabi sabi kintsugi). This is a high fired gray stoneware dipped in a white slip and then fired with translucent overglaze. Condition as is, attractive wood stand included. :11.8cm/4.7cm and D: 7.2cm/2.9in.

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...