Fine and rare Naga child’s cowrie shell necklace from northwest Burma on hand woven macramé cotton cord. These is an old set, circa 60 years with an excellent worn natural patina, please note that each bead is hand carved to nest into one another. Cowrie shells has been used been used as money and jewelry since just about the beginning of the human race. Please note that this is a genuinely old Naga artifact- most of what is being offered on the internet these days are new pieces a... Click for details
This silver and clay pipe is from a Lawa tribal group living in northern Thailand. (For Lawa pipes similar to this one, see “Peoples of the Golden Triangle,” by Paul and Elaine Lewis, Thames and Hudson, 1998, p. 66.) The Lawa, also called Lua or Wa/Lawa, are a lowland people, one of the smaller tribal groups among the hill tribes of Thailand, Burma and Laos. The black clay bowl on this pipe is in pristine condition, suggesting it replaced earlier bowls that were affixed to the old curved silver ... Click for details
Fine and rare old hand spun and woven cotton textile from Luang Prabang, Laos with indigo tiger and monkey motif and key fret side borders. Comparing the dyes (note the well toned silk threads in last enlargement) to other dated Vietnam War era pieces, I saw during a recent visit, I would put this piece to at least 60 years or older. Excellent condition and mounted on a contemporary handwoven cotton backing and border. L: 128cm/51in and H: 56cm/22in (mounted dimensions 88cm/35in x ... Click for details
Very unusual mortar made from what appears to be a monkeys skull, probably a langur or gibbon as they are the monkeys of this size from the Shan State, Burma where this came. As is the case in much of Southeast Asia, indigenous animist “spirit doctors” play an important role in Shan society and were not at odds with the local Buddhist Yuan sect as they believed these individuals were “monks” of a sort, imbued with magical powers. Potions for healing as well as creams smeared on the... Click for details
This most unusual rice ladle from the Shan minority people of Southeast Asia has carvings of a peacock, an elephant, a donkey, a fish and a mystery animal all lined up along its handle. Carving on the double handle, meant to simulate rope, is skillfully done; carving on the animals is much more primitive, which probably means that it originated in one of the many small Shan villages concentrated in northeast Burma and northwest Thailand. The ladle bowl is made from a sturdy gourd coated with lac... Click for details
The curved white tusk of a wild boar was fitted with three silver filigree bands to create this tribal necklace from one of Indonesia's out islands. This unusual mid to late 20th century piece carries the aura of the jungle but its island tribal origin is unknown to us. Numerous ornaments, including small statues, utensils and kris handles, fashioned from various types of horn and bone were believed within island tribal cultures to have magical properties. The tusk hangs from a silver chain atta... Click for details
Esoteric bell with a bear tooth incisor handle. This piece came from Northern Laos but the bell is of Sino/Tibetan origin and quite old, over 100 years- probably much older. Due to the red synthetic yarn that holds an old Chinese coin as a clapper my best guess is that it was used by the Yao/Mien people for Taoist rituals but it might be Miao/Hmong, who are also a large ethnic group in this region. The bear tooth is also old as it has a fine aged ivory color and patina (unless the bear w... Click for details
Rare three paneled men’s wrap from the Nung/Rawang ethnic group of the Kachin State, Burma. The weaving technique and materials are quite unique which I have not encountered with any other ethnic group. The base warp and weft foundation is made from hemp fiber, the pile is made from cotton, and the finished maroon colored ends are finished in wool. All the fibers on this piece are handspun with the exception of the bright colored yarn which are “store bought” synthetics. The Rawang are... Click for details
Fine and rare large conch shell pendant from Central Thailand Bronze Age Ban Chiang or Lopburi cultures circa 300-500 CE. Superb condition with minimal calcification, may still be worn! Included is a museum quality perspex stand (total H: 14.5cm/5.6in). Maximum D: 7.7cm/3in and W: 3.4cm/1.5in.
Nice old pair of Northern Thai woven bamboo baskets used for steaming and carrying rice. The basket on the left is used for steaming “sticky” or glutinous rice and is about 40 years old, H: 19cm/7.5in while the one on the right is older, circa 60 years, and is used to carry cooked rice into the fields. Sticky rice is the traditionally preferred staple in much of Northern Thailand and Laos, and is eaten with fingers. H: 22cm/8.6in.
