This old Chinese container would have been used by a poor farmer or fisherman to carry his lunch, and tea while he was off working for the day. The main container has 2 sections and there is an additional rimmed tray which fits just inside below the tightly fitted lid. All 3 pieces are made from very tightly woven from 2 different types of plant materials.
Roughly 9 inches x 9 inches x 4 inches, with a richly patinated surface, this container is a wonderful ethnographic artifact from anot...
In old China, a carpenter's tools were also considered as an symbol of the quality of his craftsmanship. This antique carpenter's tool has a hand carved dragon with some of the original paint remaining in the crevasses. The plumb bob is made from a section of animal antler. The old Chinese carpenter would fill the bowl with charcoal and it would be used to snap a straight line.
modern day items of this are still used by carpenters worldwide but they are made of metal or plastic and filled w...
During the Qing Dynasty, hair combs like this were commonly used. The structure is bone and the tines are of wood. A few tines have gone missing with age and use. The comb is about 5 inches x 2 inches.
This Chinese hair comb was hand carved from a beautifully "grained" translucent animal horn.
Obtained from an ethnic minority person, the pair of ducks carved into the handle were commonly used by mainstream Han Chinese as a symbol of a long and happy marriage. Items with this symbol would often be gifted for an anniversary.
This traditional Chinese spoon was used for spooning out powdered herbs and other ingredients when mixing Chinese medicines. The spoon is bone, patinated with age and use. The spoon is 4.75 inches long...
It is a nice ethnographic artifact of former time and place
These 3 bobbins aka thread holders would have been used in China when hand sewing was the major activity of the women of the house. Each bobbin was individually carved and each has a small ball which moves freely within the carved slot. Either individually or as a group, they are nice ethnographic artifacts of the Chinese culture during the Qing dynasty.
These Chinese long wooden bobbins were used for winding thread for routine sewing chores. As a household tool, used by generations of women within the family, they were hand carved and painted with the continious use in mind. Inside each bobbin there is a small bead which freely moves back and forth and acts as a noise maker when the bobbin is in motion...or falling to the floor.
Made of iron, this antique Japanese mobile candle stand, known as a teshoku, dates from the Edo period. So typical of the old Japanese ethnographic objects, the design of this single candle holder is totally simple and wonderfully functional. With a lighted candle, this candlestand could be easily carried about the house by use of long very gently curved handle. When set in down, the placement of the 3 legs makes it very stable to minimize chances of it being accidentally knocked over. It is...
This old set of pygmy quiver and arrows have seen a lot of use. When hunting, the leather quiver would have been worn high on the back. The cap comes off easily and the upper portion of the quiver is bent to allow easy access to the arrows. The metal tips of the 5 arrows are worn and broken with only 1 showing its original shape and barbs. Each arrow has a plant binding around the end with a notch for the bow string. This rare set is a true ethnographic artifact of the African pygmy hunting ...
This is a unique Chinese Trousse. The chopsticks are black wood, presumed to be Zitan and are totally enclosed inside the scabbard when the trousse is closed. Both the scabbard and knife handle are covered with tortoise shell and have silver fittings.
The Tibetan leather flint pouch (aka strike a light) is properly known as a "mechag" (me = fire , chag = iron) or fire iron. This Tibetan flint pouch is decorated with ornate silver and bronze ornamentation with an inset red bead which appears to be a replacement for the original bead. The pouch would have been secured to the wears belt with the attached leather strap.
This is large strike a light ...the strike plate spans 6.5 inches and the purse including handle is 5 inches high...an wide...
A must have for any lotus shoe collector. This iron was used for pressing lotus shoes. The thin curved end was useful for getting into the toe area.
Made of iron, it is somewhat rusty-i.e. pleasantly aged.
Length tip to tip is 13"
Head-axes were used by the indigenous tribes in the mountainous Cordillera region of the Philippines during the late 1800-early 1900’s. This headhunters axe has the original decorated handle featuring a brass sheet covering with a profusion of cut-work. The blade is very sharp and is uncleaned and unpolished. It is suspected that these axes may have had their origins from Dao axes of Burma and or India.
This old Chinese ethnic minority needle case is hand carved with geometric marking from end to end. Needle cases were essential tools for all indigenous cultures and frequently became important objects of decorated folk art.
According to many Indians, this old juicer would also doubled as a pasta maker. With the carved animal heads on each side, and great aged patina, it makes an interesting sculptural artifact of India's culture.
Measures 12 high, 10 inches wide and 6 inches deep.
Nice old traditional Chinese opium scale with travel case. The measuring stick is ivory and marked to indicate weights. Approximately 13 inches long, this piece is obviously old and shows signs of use but is in good condition.
The body of this antique Miao Chinese powder horn is carved with large spider web, small foo dogs, and clouds. The stopper is carved into a lotus blossom. The Miao believe that passed relatives take the form of spiders to visit and watch family members, so spider webs are left undisturbed in the home. This horn is from Kali area and is in excellent condition. It is 80-90 years old and approx 9" long.
This ingenious antique Chinese sundial can be carried in the pocket. When needed, the cover is removed, the pointer is raised and held in place by the notch in the raised semi circle arm. Direction is established by the small compass on one side of the pointer. The small fixed circular dial on the other side of the pointer uses Chinese characters. I was told this was used by Feng Shui practitioners...Though bought in mainland China, the combination of Roman numerals and Chinese characters...Ho...