Functional

Until recent times, most art was not created as “art for art’s sake.” Rather, decorative designs were used to adorn spiritual, ceremonial and every day, functional and didactic items. Local craftsmen, artisans and production centers created aesthetically pleasing personalized objects for daily use for the joy of it and to please gods and deities often using symbols believed to imbue them with auspicious powers. Common utilitarian objects included dishes, utensils and vessels for eating, cooking, storing or pouring foods, liquids or precious items (perfumes, oils, wines etc.) as well as tools, instruments, weapons and agricultural and weaving implements. These objects reflected the status, financial resources and interests and proclivities of the user or the person commissioning the objects. The VA collection highlights the unique and decorative appeal of these items. Ancient pottery, metalworks, carvings and other utilitarian pieces ranged from plain to highly decorative. Chinese craftsmen produced home items to promote fu to enter the house and Burmese hand looms and oxcarts were topped with carvings to protect the user in the hope that works of high quality would be created. Whatever their intended use or nature of their designs, utilitarian art and artifacts reflect unique skills and provide a sense of comfort and personalization of the environment or culture in which they were made.

Showing 13–24 of 24 results

  • Sale!

    Antique Cast Iron Pot w/Handle and Hook, India #5014JAK

    Original price was: $150.00.Current price is: $85.00.
    H: 12.75″  Dia: 7″ | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This is simple but attractive antique welded Indian iron pot is covered with a nice antique rust color patina and its clear lines indicate where each metal piece was joined in its construction. Generally formed in an egg shape with a rounded bottom for easy pouring, it has a tactile charm and character that would add charm to any room, especially a kitchen, look more

  • Antique Clay Hill Tribe Ceramic Pipe, Burma/Myanmar (3474C-WKE) $105

    $105.00
    H: 1.875”  W: 1.75”  D: 4” | FREE SHIPPING!

    Antique and vintage ceramic tobacco pipes are part of a long cultural tradition of Burmese/Myanmar and Thai hill tribes. Mould made and adorned with intricate designs, a bamboo or metal stem was often inserted at the end through which smoke was drawn. This highly collectible antique item reflects hill-tribe skills creating decorative functional objects and would be a unique gift for any pipe smoker, but, like all antique items, we recommended it be used as a decorative item.

  • Antique Clay Hill Tribe Pipe, Burma/Myanmar (3474B-WKE) $85

    $85.00
    H: 2”  W: 1.75”  D: 4” | FREE SHIPPING!

    Antique and vintage ceramic tobacco pipes are part of a long cultural tradition of Burmese/Myanmar and Thai hill tribes. Mould made and adorned with intricate designs, a bamboo or metal stem was often inserted at the end through which smoke was drawn. This highly collectible antique item reflects hill-tribe skills creating decorative functional objects and would be a unique gift for any pipe smoker, but, like all antique items, we recommended it be used as a decorative item.

  • Antique Dhokra Brass Measuring Bowl, India (9500A-WAH)

    $155.00
    H: 3.875” Dia: 3.875” | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This antique brass vessel was a daily measuring bowl for rice or other grains made by Dhokra metalsmiths from Eastern India using the same lost wax casting process for millennia. Extremely labor intensive and time consuming, each piece is one-of-a-kind. Dhokra items are beautifully and intricately decorated with simple uncomplicated forms. This charming piece is a typical grain measure and has a handle for hanging and decorated with horizontal striations across the top and bordered by downward striated triangles with a smooth patina from age and use. This bowl were regarded as a symbol of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi and was prized by villagers who could afford them for puja home worship and placed on a home altar.

    Click here for the Blog Dhokra Metal Smiths: Retaining Primitive Techniques with Unfailing Success 

    Click here for the Blog Hindu Home and Temple Shrines and Religious Practices

     

  • Antique Dhokra Brass Measuring Bowl, India (9500D-JAH) $155

    $155.00
    H: 3.5” Dia: 3.75” | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This antique brass vessel was a daily measuring bowl for rice or other grains made by Dhokra metal smiths from Eastern India using the same lost wax casting process for over 4000 years. Extremely labor intensive and time consuming, each piece is one-of-a-kind. Dhokra items are beautifully and intricately decorated with simple uncomplicated forms.  This charming piece has a handle for hanging with horizontal striations and downward striated triangles with a smooth patina from age and use. This type of bowl was regarded as a symbol of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi and was prized by villagers who could afford them for puja home worship and placed on a home altar.

  • Antique Dhokra Brass Measuring Bowl, India (9500E-NAH)

    $155.00
    H: 3.875” Dia: 4.125” | FREE SHIPPING IN CNTINENTAL U.S.!

    This antique brass vessel was a daily measuring bowl for rice or other grains made by Dhokra metal smiths from Eastern India using the same lost wax casting process for over 4000 years. Extremely labor intensive and time consuming, each piece is one-of-a-kind. Dhokra items are beautifully and intricately decorated with simple uncomplicated forms.  This charming piece has a handle for hanging with horizontal striations and downward striated triangles with a smooth patina from age and use. This type of bowl was regarded as a symbol of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi and was prized by villagers who could afford them for puja home worship and placed on a home altar.

     

  • Antique Dhokra Brass Rice/Grain Measuring Bowl, India (9500B-VAH) $155

    $155.00
    H: 4.25” Dia: 4” | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This antique brass vessel was a daily measuring bowl for rice or other grains made by Dhokra metal smiths from Eastern India using the same lost wax casting process for over 4000 years. Extremely labor intensive and time consuming, each piece is one-of-a-kind. Dhokra items are beautifully and intricately decorated with simple  uncomplicated forms.  This charming piece has handle for hanging with horizontal striations and downward striated triangles with a smooth patina from  age and use. This type of bowl was regarded as a symbol of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi and was prized by villagers who could afford them for puja home worship and placed on a home altar.

  • Antique Dhorka Brass Measuring Bowl, India (9500C-VAH) $155

    $155.00
    H: 3.75” Dia: 3.75” | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This antique brass vessel was a daily measuring bowl for rice or other grains made by Dhokra metal smiths from Eastern India using the same lost wax casting process for over 4000 years. Extremely labor intensive and time consuming, each piece is one-of-a-kind. Dhokra items are beautifully and intricately decorated with simple uncomplicated forms.  This charming piece has a handle for hanging with horizontal striations and downward striated triangles with a smooth patina from age and use. This type of bowl was regarded as a symbol of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi and was prized by villagers who could afford them for puja home worship and placed on a home altar.

  • Sale!

    Antique Enamel Yixing Stoneware Teapot, China 1152B-PAR

    Original price was: $365.00.Current price is: $295.00.
    H: 2.625”  W: 6.125”  D: 4” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This delicate antique Yixing teapot is unusually shaped with a  loop handle, short spout, flaring rim, small flat cover and small loops below its rim that indicate it may have been used to suspend oil or soy sauce rather than serve tea. Its charm is enhanced by its free hand-painted colored enamels with 6 circular panels containing fanciful and bright floral and leaf decorations. Chinese tea connoisseurs consider Yixing teapots the best vessel for brewing tea as it is naturally porous to absorb oils released during brewing and improves tea’s flavor with continual use. Recommended for display only, it pairs well with 1152A-PAR Enameled Yixing Stoneware Teapot.

  • Antique Porcelain Spouted Jar with Lugs, China (1106WHE) $135

    $135.00
    H: 5”  W: 5.25”  D: 4.5” | FREE SHIPPING!

    Utilitarian ceramics like this were used in home kitchens and restaurants to hold oil, sauces, soy or other liquids. This spouted blue and white porcelain jar has four loops, also called lugs, so a natural fiber such as rattan could be threaded to either secure a top create a way to hang it to a peg. Sealing the top was very useful if the jars contained liquid and needed to be transported. The piece is decorated in a free and expressive manner with a charming impression of a country scene of a building in a landscape surrounded by tall trees. The cobalt is thick and dark in some areas of the foliage and applied with a thin, sparing and light brush elsewhere.

  • Sale!

    Antique/Vintage Sweetmeats Confection-Mold, China #19434

    Original price was: $425.00.Current price is: $215.00.
    H: 16.5″ W: 10.5″ D: 2.25″ CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING QUOTE

    This finely detailed hardwood mold was used to make sweetmeats confections, perhaps mooncakes for the Chinese Autumn Moon Festival. It is covered with deeply carved propitious symbols for marital harmony, sons and successful endeavors:  a four clawed dragon for fertility, two ducks symbolizing marital bliss and harmony, one atop a carp for conjugal bliss and achieving noble rank and a boat with a sail for making all this easy sailing. This would be a great accessory or gift (especially for weddings) to spice up any kitchen.

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  • Han Dynasty Bronze Dragon Belt Hook, China (1095BLE)

    $485.00

    Chinese belt hooks were worn with the hook end on the wearer’s left and fastened to clothing with a button like bronze piece fixed to the belt’s end. Initially only functional, metalwork belt hooks became a symbol of wealth, high status and power by the Han Dynasty. They were made using a variety of materials…

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