Fine and rare complete set of 38 black and white plates on hard paper, loose leafed box set of Chinese Baskets, published by the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago by Berthold Laufer- Curator of Anthropology, 1925. There is a two page text preface. All the prints are in mint condition and there is one minor scuff on the box edge. Each print may be individually framed. 31cm/12in x 23cm/9in.
A wood carving of several animals; one end depicts a pig face, another end is a bird and thirdly a small bird leaning on larger bird. This rare seen carving possibly is a mythological figure of special significance from one of China’s minority groups.
In vibrant shades of blue on a black background, this painting by Chinese folk artist Luo Zhi Jiang has a sophisticated, dream-like quality that seems worlds away from the painter’s rural home base in Huxian County, Shaanxi Province. Luo Zhi Jiang is one of the few Chinese so-called “peasant painters” to establish a reputation abroad. We first met the artist at the Huxian Painting Community in the early 1990s and were struck by his vision and talent. Since then he has had solo shows in London a... Click for details
DESCRIPTION: A double-lobed water (or wine) gourd decorated with braided silk cord and two jadeite rings, one white for fastening to the wearer’s sash, and the green one to prevent loss of the bamboo stopper. Excellent condition with a lovely patina, and dating from the late 19th to early 20th century, Qing Dynasty. DIMENSIONS: 7” high (17.8 cm) x 4 ¼” diameter (10.8 cm).
The white goats in this colorful Chinese folk painting climb a blue/green hill tinged with red by the huge setting sun. Gouache on paper, this piece from Huxian County in Shaanxi Province is unsigned, as was generally the case for art from China’s peasant painting communities. The Huxian painting community was established in 1958, and from there the movement spread across China, growing to 51 such rural groups by 1989.(For an overview of paintings from many such communities, see “The Best in Mod... Click for details
A Chinese temple sculpture of a fisherman being lifted from the sea on the back of a large fish. A folk art carving and likely one of a myriad of wooden figures from a rural Tin Hau Temple depicting various miracles involving the Queen of Heaven (or Tin Hau, also Thien Hau, Mazu or Matsu) who is, among other things, patroness and rescuer of sailors and fishermen. The peasant, sun-burnt fisherman is bare-chested, wearing a red scarf around his shoulders and a red sash around his waist. Both t... Click for details
Among the many varieties of red lacquered containers used during China's Qing and early Republic years, none has a more striking form than the humble lunch pail. An elegantly designed everyday item, it is constructed of shaped wood staves, a tall bent willow handle and a notched lid that snaps securely in place around the handle. Pails in this design also are referred to as berry pails. The recessed bottom on this one is decorated with two drawings of flowers, perhaps done by the maker of the pa... Click for details
This early to mid-19th century Chinese pewter teapot is sized to brew two small cups of tea. The outsized handle, made to resemble a Western cup handle, and the long curved spout are said to be a favorite design of that era, probably because it was so functional. Pewter was used for brewing strong teas; ceramics for brewing lighter teas. This pot has a few small dents on one side of the shoulder; otherwise it is in good condition. Dimensions: height 7" (18 cm), width from handle to spout tip 6-1... Click for details
Chinese skill at basketry is on display in this late Qing woven bamboo lantern basket. Colored a rich, dark red, the ovoid form, set on a gold-colored bent bamboo base and topped with a tall bent handle, is a striking piece of utilitarian folk art. Six different weaving techniques are incorporated to add to the tactile quality. The basket maker, or perhaps the basket's owner, added calligraphy, four characters on the lid and four on the base, to the container which was used to carry lantern ligh... Click for details
Six vintage Chinese handmade ceramic tiles fit together to form dragons playing with a round flaming object that represents in traditional Chinese art a flaming pearl or the sun. The Chinese dragon is a beneficent creature. When shown with a horn, as the dragon on the left, it lives in the sky; hornless, as the dragon on right, it lives in the sea. (A third category, the dragon of the mountains, is identified by a body covered with scales.) There is a long history in China of making tiles that a... Click for details
