DESCRIPTION: A fine, large Chinese boxwood toggle in the shape of a Chinese coin with four script characters on each side surrounding the square hole. Around the edge, various plant and animal forms are carved in high relief, including a flower, bird, squirrel and bat. The suspension cord, connecting it to an object such as a tobacco pouch, would have been strung through the openings under the bat's wings. Wonderful patina, excellent condition, and dating from the 1800's or earlier...

DESCRIPTION: A very old Chinese wooden incense holder, crafted in the form of a partially unrolled scroll that bends and folds to form the container. On the edges of the “scroll” is a relief carved key pattern border with traces of gilt; the worn lacquer surface still shows the original designs of a bird, flower, bamboo and Chinese characters. The top of the flat back plate has a shaped and carved design with a center hole for hanging...

A fine cricket cage, composed of a body made from a gourd and a rim and lid made of ivory. The lid itself is nicely carved to represent a lotus and foliage around surmounting an openwork geometric design. Its silk case, partly damaged, is joined to the cage. China, 19th century. Length: 7.8 cm. Very good condition.

Sometimes assumed by Westerners as "medical models" these are Chinese fertility dolls. As ritual items, they rarely come onto the market. Used by several Chinese ethnic minority cultures, including the Miao, Yao and Naxi, the old fertility dolls were hand carved, anatomically correct and with pegged and jointed limbs. The hair styles and head gear would vary depending on the minority group...

Chinese wooden hand carved mask of a smiling man, its jaw left open so that the wearer had an easier time speaking. Features of the mask include red lacquer lips, black lacquer eyebrows, nice carved details such as the teeth, nostrils, wrinkled forehead and hair. 18th/19th century Size: 6.75" height, 4.75" width

Antique Chinese Scroll made of ink and mineral colors on paper. Story illustrates Dung Fang Shuo, the daoist sage, and auspicious symbols carrying the peach of immortality, with the bat of longevity flying overhead. Two seals are displayed. First seal reading, "Li Guang Jin yin", second seal is the studio seal. Artist's name is Li, Guang Jin from the studio Fu Qing. Circa late 19th Century Dimensions: Overall Size: 78.5" High X 56.25" Wide

Antique hand-carved wooden half mask of some sort of god or deity, with recognizable features of a deity such as the elongated earlobes, and winglike hair and eyebrows. Has small traces of red lacquer, and above its lips are remains of where many bunches of hair would once have been, missing due to antiquity. Visible chisel marks are apparent inside. 18th/19th century Size: 11" height, 7" width

South China/North Vietnam Yao Shaman Ka Dong Deity Ritual Mask. This fine old mask would have been used in the same family for several generations to perform rituals such as those for a newborn baby and maturation. The wood for this important mask would have been taken from dep in the forest where spirits were believed to live. 14.5 inches, 37 cm.

Intricately carved mask for the Nuo esoteric theater, representing the legendary character of Bao Gong, or Judge Bao, wearing a formal hat, his face in relief with a fierce expression, with bulging eyes, open mouth revealing fangs, and a stylised beard. Wood, with traces of the original polychrome colouring. China, 18th century. Height: 29.6 cm. Very good condition despite signs of old insect infestation (no danger).

DESCRIPTION: A pair of substantial, deeply carved Chinese doors originating from Zhejiang province and dating from the early 1800’s, Qing dynasty. These handsome, heavy solid elm doors still have all of their original pegs attached, which would have been set into round sockets at the top and bottom, allowing the doors to be opened and closed.

The top panels are carved with flowers and a repeating swastika pattern, the Chinese character meaning good fortune or longevity...

A long, rare and attractive horizontal Yao Mien ceremonial procession scroll "DRAGON BRIDGE", circa 1890, Southern China, painted on rice or mulberry paper. Iconographically important in Daoist art. Condition: overall good, some minor effects of aging. Size: L 365 cm x H. 17 cm. Collector's item, difficult to find complete and in this condition. For further information/history on Lantien & Mien Yao paintings please refer to "Yao Ceremonial Paintings" by Jacques Lemoine...

Unusual Chinese late Qing dynasty to possibly early Republic (late 19th to early 20th century) hardwood stand used to hold opium pipe dampers. A single drawer with brass pull is used for the storage of smoking accessories. The back is nicely carved with a bamboo motif. 13"L x 2"D x 3"H. Very good overall condition with some minor stains to the wood consistent with its age and use. This piece is from the private collection of American expatriates who lived in Hong Kong in the 1970s and 1980s...

18th Century Mongolian Thangka of a Guardian Deity General on a White Horse. 27 x 19.25 inches, 68.5 x 49 cm.

Fine and rare four paneled skirt, from the Meifu subgroup of the Li people, Hainan Island, circa mid 20th century. These kinds of textiles are unique among Chinese minority weavings as they combine supplementary weft brocade and tie dye ikat techniques. The colored threads in the brocaded panel are polyester and commercial white thread while the rest of the skirt is hand spun cotton and indigo. There is some minor even fraying at the bottom and a few negligible small holes...

Fine and rare four paneled skirt, from the Meifu subgroup of the Li people Hainan Island, circa mid 20th century. These kinds of textiles are unique among Chinese minority weavings as they combine supplementary weft brocade and tie dye ikat techniques. The colored threads in the brocaded panel are a combination of silk, cotton, and polyester while the rest of the skirt is hand spun cotton and indigo in an abstract and zoomorphic design. There is one negligible small hole...

Fine and rare five paneled skirt, from the Meifu subgroup of the Li people Hainan Island, circa mid 20th century. These kinds of textiles are unique among Chinese minority weavings as they combine supplementary weft brocade and tie dye ikat techniques. The colored threads in the brocaded panel are a combination of cotton, and polyester while the rest of the skirt is hand spun cotton and indigo in an abstract and zoomorphic design- pulled apart at the seam on top, no rips or holes...

These 3 small oil lamps were brought back to the US by a Baptist missionary who lived and traveled extensively throughout China. Oil lamps like these were used for light source extensively throughout rural China by poor peasants. Simply made, presumed cut from scraps of tin and soldered into shape.. the lids come off for filling with oil and some original home made wicks remain in place. The tallest is 5 inches high...

Intricately carved with a three legged toad (wealth) resting on a leaf, next to a lotus pod with movable hardwood seeds, under the leaf a spider and another insect and two frogs on the stem of the lotus pod. H. 3,5 cm, diameter 5 cm. For a similar toggle: Margaret Duda-Traditional Chinese Toggles, page 79, fig. 452. Beautiful wear and patina.