Gifts

We have indicated several items as “Gifts” since that was their original intent when they were created. The Chinese often presented marriage gifts with symbols of fidelity, marital harmony and, most often, fertility and a wish for many male children. Other gift items are uniquely suited for specific purposes such as house warming items or objects that reflect specific interest or passions.

Showing 1–12 of 47 results

  • Sale!

    Ancient Lekanis Dish, Magna Graecia (3247BHK) $575

    Original price was: $595.00.Current price is: $525.00.
    H: 3.625”  Dia: 3.5″ | FREE SHIPPING within contiNental U.S.!

    This diminutive but very elegant piece is a lekanis, a lid-covered container for cosmetics.  Originating in Greece embraced by artisans from Apulia in Magna Graecia in Southern Italy who adapted this form in their Xenon wares in the 6th century B.C.E. This terracotta lidded bowl is covered with pale matte salmon decorations over a black glazed body highlighted with decorative meandering bands. Fathers in ancient times filled these bowls with small items of adornment and gave them to their daughters as a wedding gift, which would be a delightful tradition to uphold today.

     

    container for cosmetics in the 6th century BCE.and a matte pale orange-red or salmon decoration over a black glazed terracotta body fired from red clay. It was used as a special gift for a bride from fathers with small adornment items placed inside.

  • Sale!

    Antique Carved Box with Auspicious Symbols, China (16000TRK) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $325.00.Current price is: $295.00.
    H: 6.375″  W: 10.75″  D: 7.125″  |  FREE SHIPPING within continental U.S.!

    This charming carved and lacquered multi-use box opens from the top and has a side drawer with a metal pull. It is decorated with auspicious carved symbols for a good, healthy, prosperous and long life  Carved fu lion heads with flowing manes adorn the front and plum blossoms and a fan the front and frame.  Painted calligraphic phrases refer to a wish for many sons. It was likely a wedding gift to newlyweds and would still be great for that purpose.

  • Antique Carved Sweetmeat Confection Mold, China (3214A-BKE)

    $475.00
    H: 5.625″  W: 27.875″  D: 9.75″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This exceptionally crafted and beautiful footed confection mould  was most probably a marriage gift from a wealthy family to the newly wed as seen its symbols.  It is elaborated and ornately decorated in vibrant reds and gilt with many auspicious symbols for fidelity, fertility and happiness with lotuses and pods filled with seeds, bats, paired fish and intertwined vines. 

     

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  • Antique Carving of Auspicious Fruit Offering, China (19304UAK) $195

    $195.00
    H: 4.75″  W: 3.675″  D: 3.675″

    This offering plate with a stack of five propitious fruits was probably affixed to one of the bed posts for a couple as a wish for male children and longevity. The plate sits on a base draped with a stylized ritual cloth and embellished with carved leaves and holds a pomegranate on top to symbolize fertility and the four peaches below are symbols of longevity.

  • Antique Cast Iron Tea Kettle (Tetsubin) with Temple Shrine on Lid (1799JOK) $295

    $295.00
    H: 8.625”  W: 7.5”  D: 6.5” | FREE SHIPPING within Continental u.s.!

    Traditionally been used to boil water for the Japanese Tea Ceremony. With its large handle, rounded shape, pitted surface and rare ornamental temple-shaped knob it would enhance any kitchen and be a wonderful gift of any tea lover.

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

    $85.00
    H: 2”  W: 1.75”  D: 4” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    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 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 Document Holder with Poem and Auspicious Symbols, China (19404XRK) $350

    $350.00
    H: 10.75”  W: 7”  D: 4.5” | FREE SHIPPING

    This  delicately carved and elaborate document holder was designed to be mounted on a wall held up by its back panel with sumptuously carved floral cutouts and graceful curvilinear embellishments. It was clearly intended as a wedding gift as it is embellished with a huge assortment of auspicious symbols for newly weds, with wishes for wealth, glory, harmony, unity, fertility, the birth of sons, longevity among others.  The scalloped carrier section is covered with with black, red and gilt designs and poems by the very famous Song Dynasty poet Su Shi. This would be a wonderful, unique, and appropriate wedding gift to send the bride and groom off with the best possible wishes.

  • Sale!

    Antique Home Altar With Panel of Guanyin on Hǒu, China (19433BCK) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $585.00.Current price is: $485.00.
    H: 9”  W: 18.5”  D: 5.875” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    As a wish for a prosperous and healthy family with many sons, this small table elegant probably was in a young couple’s bedroom to hold small personal statues and store precious items. Guanyin sits a hǒu holding lotuses in the right panel and the left has fertility symbols rats with melons.  It. is perfect for creating a personal home altar and a unique wedding gift.

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  • Antique Jewelry Box with Auspicious Symbols, China (16782BKE) $385

    $385.00
    H: 8.5″  W: 15″  D:5″ |  CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL VANISHINGARTS@GMAIL.COM FOR SHIPPING COST

    This vibrant jewelry box containing five draws with tear drop pulls is decorated with well recognized auspicious symbols to bring blessings and good luck to its fortunate female owner: red, the color of “fu” symbolizes blessings for a virtuous and blissful life; the carved young women on the doors holding lotus stems symbolize beauty and purity; and the five bats surrounding a longevity character on the top mean ““May you have a harmonious marriage with the Five Blessings.” With its propitious meanings, this charming box was probably a wedding gift for the optimistic bride and would be as appropriate today.

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  • Antique Kitchen God and His Wife (16850D-BME) $695

    $695.00
    H: 7.25″  W: 3″  D: 1.625″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    This Kitchen God and his wife are mirror-images, originally placed above the stove to monitor and bring good luck to the household. Finely carved, they wearing simplified officials robes and symbolically hold a tablet. Their bright colors have faded naturally into a smooth warm patina which adds comfort and positive feng sui to any kitchen decor and are unique wedding gifts.

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