Functional

Showing 37–48 of 82 results

  • Antique Glazed Opium Pillow, Shiwan, China (3849A-ZHK) $235

    $235.00
    H: 7.25 ”    W: 5 ”    D: 5 ”    | FREE SHIPPING!

    This five-sided Shiwan stoneware pillow with slanted top, open bottom, vibrant glazed surface, and etched coin and  diamond design was used for smoking opium as the cool shell cradled the users’ heads and necks and offset the warmth of smoking and the hollow inside stored valuables. We have another which can be paired with it. If a candle is placed inside it emits an amazing shadowy form of a coin, which appealed to those in an opium state.

     

  • Antique Hamsa Heddle Pulley, Burma/Myanmar (11298A-WCK) $195

    $195.00
    H: 10.5”  W: 3.25”  D: 2.375” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This elegant heddle-pulley carved from a single piece of Burmese teak is topped by a hamsa, a  sacred Buddhist symbol of wisdom mentioned in  the Jakata tales about the life of the Buddha. It is believed that auspicious symbolic animal images protected the weaver, assured quality weaving, and pleased the gods and spirits. This antique piece is wonderfully weathered from time and use.

  • Antique Hindu Peacock Oil Lamp, India (9526BEB) $365

    $365.00
    H: 13″  W: 8.5 ”  D: 4.75  ”  | FREE SHIPPING!

    This graceful brass oil lamp is topped by two peacocks, a large one that held oil and a smaller one decorated with striated lines. sitting high on a thin mount with  a spiral base. It was used for Hindu prayer rituals (puja) in the home or at temples and for devotional worship. This fine lost wax lamp with a soft patina is a one-of-a-kind piece. Often used in Hindu religious sculptures, peacocks have a strong religious tradition and represent harmony, joy and beauty and the time cycle.

     

  • Antique Hindu Votive Oil Lamp and Ladle, India (1204BHE) $450

    $450.00
    H: 5.5”  W: 13.75”  D: 3” | FREE SHIPPING

    This graceful South Indian cast brass oil lamp with attached spoon was used for Hindu prayer rituals.  It has an oil reservoir in the center, a shallow yoni shaped burner at the front, a finial at the end and it is mounted on a flared circular foot. The top surface is decorated with incised floral motifs.

     

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

    $385.00

    H: 8.5″   W: 15″  D:5″. Shipping Quote Required.  Call 213-568-3030

    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.

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  • Antique Kumkum Container, Nepal (1278XAE) $295

    $295.00
    H: 3” Dia: 2.875″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    This  finely designed bronze kumkum container was used in Hindu worship (puja). It is a well-shaped ornamented cup divided artistically into three sections: a top flat lip surrounded by decorative bosses and parallel lines, and band of stylized leaves, and set on a tubular trunk on a decorative base.  Also known as chopra containers, they were made from a variety of materials, although bronze was rather rare and used by wealthy Hindu women and royalty to store tikka kumkuma powder, as the poor could only afford those made from wood or pottery.

  • Antique Lacquered Fu Lion Candle Holder Pair, China (16065BAE) $395

    $395.00
    H: 5.75.”  W: 5”  D: 2.75” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This antique fu lion pair with candle holders arising from their backs look like they sprung from the mind of a Disney artist – they’re whimsical, have exaggerated features, possess a modicum of power, and command our attention while making us smile. In Buddhist traditions, fu lions were more friendly than fierce, with open mouths displaying teeth in a fanciful almost grinning pose. Following artistic traditions: they sit with forefeet on the ground, have thin bodies with rows of hair, a three-part tail, and are covered with auspicious reds and gilt. This endearing, fanciful, quirky, and delightful additions to any environment.

     

  • Antique Lacquered Wood Pair Fu Lion Furniture Bases, China (16735BSE) $595

    $595.00
    H: 4.25″  W: 2″  D: 0.75″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    During the Ming and Qing dynasties, small fu lion pairs were very popular accessories. As protectors of Buddhism, they are both menacing and friendly and this remarkably fanciful pair of crouching beasts joyously reflects both traits, with floppy ears, smiling open mouthed faces with tongues hanging out, and curled tails versus bushy eyebrows, bulging eyes and long pointed nails. As originally decorations on furniture with flat rear sides, they can stand alone as decorative accessories or even be a great pair of bookends. However they are used, they are guaranteed to bring a smile to those who are fortunate to see them on a regular basis.

  • Antique Ladies Vanity Cabinet with Elaborate Carving (16442LMK) $695

    $695.00
    Ht: 20.75”  W:  19.125”  D: 11” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This very fine ladies vanity cabinet is covered with red lacquer, the color of blessings (fu), highlighted with gold and deeply carved and painted decorations of auspicious symbols to bring happiness, good fortune, long life and many sons to the elite couple who may have received it as a wedding gift by parents in hopes of them successfully carrying on the family tradition.  This is a reflection of the Confucian belief having sons to carry on the family name is essential to real happiness.

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  • Antique Lakshmi Oil Lamp, India (9508D-PBE) $245

    $245.00
    H: 5″    W: 3.25 ”    D:3.875  ”    | FREE SHIPPING!

    This brass oil lamp diya is decorated with an image on front and back of Lakshmi seated on a lotus, full-breasted and broad hipped, beneficently smiling and being lustrated (showered by water) by a pair of elephants, symbolizing rain clouds bringing water and life to the land and that unwavering effort to adhere to spiritual teachings and governed by wisdom and purity leads to both material and spiritual prosperity.

     

     

     

  • Antique Miniature Home Altar With Guanyin Panel, China (19433BCK) $485

    $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 Ox Cart with Chinthe Lion, Burma/Myanmar (11306FSE) $325

    $325.00
    H: 14.5”  W: 17.75”  D: 3.375” | FREE SHIPPING!

    Finely carved figures were attached to ox cart yokes to protect farmers from malevolent spirits who inhabited all seen and unseen sectors of their environment. This beautifully carved ox cart yolk was created in the image of a chinthe, (the word for lion) a mythical creature commonly represented in Burma to decorate a multiplicity of everyday items. Considered a propitious spiritual and protective guardian figure, the chinthe symbolizes power, courage, and strength. This carving displays the common characteristics of singhas with a long face with large eyes, a long sharp nose, a long draping lion-like beard, and a flame-like shape on the top of his head. He stands on all four legs holding his beard that extends from his open roaring mouth with sharply pointed teeth that combine elegance with strong beast-like strength. He is masterfully carved with careful attention to details like the deeply incised hairs that cover his body. For functional reasons, the piece is in two parts held together with a wooden plug. Even though it was for daily use, Burmese craftsmen created beautiful objects and finished them with the best materials they could afford. This piece was originally covered with lacquer, most of which has faded with use over time.  It is in good condition with losses to his left side, fading surface, and wear consistent with its age and use.

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