Showing 1–12 of 46 results
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$235.00
Hand carved coconut cutters like this were commonly used in India and Thailand to facilitate the difficult task of extracting all parts of the coconut that were routinely used in these cultures. Carvers took pleasure in creating unique and functional folk art tools with local artistic motifs. Long since discontinued, this carving with its warm and rustic feel would be a unique decorative addition to any style kitchen and an interesting conversational piece.
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$2,350.00
This vibrant antique icon of Virgin Mary of the The Three Hands is a traditional Eastern Orthodox image of the Mother of God with the infant Christ seated on her right arm and her left raised and pointing to him. Her three hands confirm her special healing powers based on the legend of Saint John of Damascus. The Eastern Orthodox Church triparion hymn states that “the Mother of God takes the Son with two hands, but the third one symbolizes protection for all praying people.” Russian icons are regarded as the Gospel in paint and are typically small paintings on wood panels using tempera and often ornate gold leaf. Panel cross members or “back slats” were used in pre-1890 Russian icons like this one which is in very good condition with expected signs of aging gilt, surface chips, cracks and paint losses. She is bordered on each side of the frame by saints.
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$395.00
This antique hand-carved Nuo Opera mask from Southern China of a smiling woman with a slender face, delicate features and hair in a topknot portrays a zhengshen, a friendly female deity (shen) with a kind and honest nature and a gentle disposition. She is a symbol of the power of good capable of defeating evil. Most Nuo masks are brightly painted, but the age and heavy use of this one has resulted in paint losses. Different colored bases under the reddish-brown indicate it was repainted long ago and reused more than once. The bright red lips have faded and areas around the eyes, mouth, nose and hair reveal what may be an original first layer of white gesso. Mask enthusiasts will appreciate the resulting paint and lacquer layers which tell the story of this Nuo mask’s colorful history, and, yes, the pun is intended. It is in verygood condition for its age and use and for its journey surviving China’s modernization.
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$185.00
This Shiwan green chopsticks holder is divided into two parts with holes on top for hanging and small holes on the bottom for drainage. Chopsticks were often wedding gifts from mothers to daughters with many auspicious wishes: phrases for sons as soon as possible, upside down bats with coins and ribbon meaning “blessings in front of your eyes,” pair of birds symbolizing conjugal fidelity, and border clouds and thunder symbolizing life-giving rain and abundance.
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$285.00
Wall pockets remain a very common decorative element in Asian homes. In China, they are used to hold chopsticks and flowers to bring good fortune to a space where the family gathers. This charming, finely made and unique vintage Shiwan pocket is a frog seated on a lotus. The lotus and frog share similar and symbiotic traits. Both are aquatic organisms, as frogs find shelter under the lotus leaves while the frog helps nourish the plant’s root and both symbolize transformation. In Buddhist beliefs, both move between watery environments representing the subconscious and land which symbolizes the conscious or material world. With a hole in the back for hanging on a wall, this wall pocket is great addition to enhance a kitchen’s coziness and feng shui and is a wonderful wedding gift.
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Sale!
$135.00 $115.00
This Shiwan chopsticks holder is covered in vivid apple-green glaze with a hole in the top for mounting. Chopsticks are significant accessories in China and often included in a bride’s dowry because the word for chopsticks is a pun for “speedy arrival of sons.” It is filled with many auspicious symbols: the phrase baizi qiansun (“a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons), ” a bat with coins and a ribbon (blessings in front of your eyes”) a pair of birds (conjugal fidelity) and a border pattern of clouds (abundance).This decorative container can hold utensils, dried flowers, and other objects and is a unique wedding gift.
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Sale!
$135.00 $115.00
This Shiwan chopsticks holder is covered in vivid apple-green glaze with a hole in the top for mounting. Chopsticks are significant accessories and often included in a Chinese bride’s dowry because the word for chopsticks is a pun for “speedy arrival of sons.” It is filled with many auspicious symbols: the phrase baizi qiansun (“a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons), ” a bat with coins and a ribbon (blessings in front of your eyes”) a pair of birds (conjugal fidelity) and a border pattern of clouds (abundance).This decorative container can hold utensils, dried flowers, and other objects and is a unique wedding gift.
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$115.00
This Shiwan chopsticks holder is covered in vivid apple-green glaze with a hole for mounting. Chopsticks are significant accessories and often included in a Chinese bride’s dowry because the word for chopsticks is a pun for “speedy arrival of sons.” It is filled with many auspicious symbols: the phrase baizi qiansun (“a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons),” a bat with coins and a ribbon (blessings in front of your eyes”) a pair of birds (conjugal fidelity) and a border pattern of clouds (abundance). This decorative container can hold utensils, dried flowers, and other objects and is a unique wedding gift.
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$475.00
This fascinating thick Song pottery brick is a low-fired pottery depiction of a seated dwarf foreigner with a rotund belly, a large head and nose, an open mouth and abnormal features. The Chinese believed dwarfs could ward off evil spirits and sickness, attract peace and blessings (fu) and were wise. Images of dwarfs became so popular, some were mass-produced. With an appropriate mount, this image would make a remarkable wall decoration.
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$485.00
This striking Chinese pottery brick tile depicts a pixiu, a mythical creature known as the “fortune beast” who is s a powerful feng shui symbol of wealth thought to brings money and good fortune and protect people from losing wealth. This fantastical creature with green colored wings and tail has the head of a dragon and the body of a lion. Set within a decorative curving border with an Indian inspired ogee arch at its apex it quickly moves across the framed space with an intensely protective and angry expression to protect its master and his wealth and possessions. There is a rare handprint of the artisan who created it on the rear.
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$485.00
This Song brick tile has a deep scalloped frame with an elegant pointed Indian ogee arch at the top framing two players of the Chinese board game wéiqí seated at a kang table. A fine work of art, Song pottery brick tiles were made with a light slip and polychrome colors; some slip remains and, other than the brown color on the frame, table, players, and the flowers on the back wall, little paint remains. The player on the right turns his head and looks at us as if to say “look at my brilliant move.” With an appropriate mount, this would be a great wall decoration.
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$495.00
This thin Song earthenware tile which was probably made for a wealthy person, depicts the legendary scholar, poet and alchemist Taoist deity Lu Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals, who sought to discover the elixir of immortality and used charms still used in Chinese homes to prevent illness and ward off evil. He and his fly whisk are auspicious symbols of longevity and a wish for immortality. Firecrackers have been used for centuries for holiday celebrations, to scare away evil spirits and bring happiness and prosperity. Originally covered in a slip and painted in polychrome colors, much paint is lost except for traces of yellow, green, grey and brown. With an appropriate frame would be a terrific wall piece.
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