Catalog: Vintage Arts (65)

Two bone “knives” from the Golden Triangle. I acquired these in Chiang Mai Thailand about 20 years ago and was told that were used by a “hill tribe”, for ritual ceremonies that involved the symbolic letting of blood to heal the patient. Using bones in spiritual practices is a syncretic tradition in this region as the boundaries between Buddhism and the earlier Animist practices are blurred and seem to work in harmony with one another...

Rare phallic charm from Lamphun Northern Thailand- serendipitously enough, where they have an annual sausage festival. Originally these were worn by men at the waist and were thought to protect the wearer from any harm to his penis and in a more general sense they also are believed to bring luck especially in terms of “wealth generating or protection”, so a woman might keep one in her cash box to increase your money flow or in her purse to prevent it being “snatched”...

Exquisitely, embroidery panel from the Yao, sometimes referred as the Mien, ethnic group from northwest Laos near the Vietnamese border. This piece is the back panel from of a woman’s jacket with silk embroidered thread on hand woven indigo dyed cloth and is in excellent condition (one tiny pin hole and later embroidery noted in enlargements), circa 75 years old. L: 58cm/22.8in and W: 50cm/19.8in. Free shipping Hong Registered Airmail.

Good brush painting of a tiger by the artist Li Shou Lin dated 1978. Painted in the traditional style water color and ink mounted on silk and heavy paper. Unfortunately the mounting paper has suffered mold damage while the painting itself was affected in a minor way in the form of some discoloration, having said this if framed with new matting the flaw is very negligible. Please examine enlargements- will be mailed in a cardboard tube...

Nice uncarved tall bamboo bitong. Good condition with a smooth finish. H: 28cm/11in and D: 9.5cm/3.8in.

Lovely scholar’s brush pot with a classic poem, by the Tang Poet, Li Bai, incised in traditional characters. Circa 1970/1980. H: 15cm/6in and D: 6.5cm/2.5in...

Classic Nephrite Cong. This is oldest Chinese form still used in its art today. The earliest examples were from the Liangzhu Culture circa 3400 BCE. It’s theorized that the square outer shape represented the while the inner round shape represented the Heavens. Nice nephrite jade - very smooth and tactile may be used as a toggle or scholar’s contemplation piece. H: 5.7cm/2.3in and W: 2.7/1.1. 72 grams.

Rare and unusual Iban pottery pattern paddle carved from durable Iron Wood (Belian wood), circa 19th century. The pattern on this would be pressed into unfired clay pots to give it this design by the Iban people of Sarawak. This technique has been used since Neolithic times predating the pottery wheel, where pots were made by coiling “ropes” of clay into a shape and then using the paddle to press the coils together to make a shape...

Wonderfully carved wooden Lanna Tiger, the hole in the mouth means this could be worn as amulet or placed on an altar. On the bottom is a lightly incised spiral glyph underneath the base indicate this was meant to be protect the owner. Bear in mind that amulets are very popular in Thailand and most are mass produced in either as terra cotta tablet or cast in metal- this is a one of a kind piece. H: 7.5cm/3in and W: 4.8cm/1.9in.

Mixed lot of lovely ungraded undyed coral polished branches of angel skin, pink and red coral etc. I acquired these in a Hong Kong Auction from a jewelry factory going out of business. 96 grams and 130 pieces. See last enlargement for scale metric scale. Free shipping via Hong Kong Registered Mail. Some have holes but most don’t.

Fine and rare two paneled wedding blanket from the Bouyi (aka Buyi) ethnic group in Changshun area Guizou, China. Woven from all handspun cotton thread. The blue and white center field has a “wanzi” swastika meander pattern while the upper and lower parts are the repetitive “well” symbols. This dates circa 1960’s. Without border- L 130cm/51in and W: 72cm/28in, with border- L: 176cm/69in and W: 114cm/28in. A stunning piece- almost has a Mark Rothko feeling to it.

Colorful Stieng woman’s wrap around skirt from the Xtiêng (Stieng), estimated population of 7000, minority Binh Duong Province and Dong Nai Province of southeastern Vietnam. Hand woven with handspun cotton field and patterns of combination synthetic and cotton commercial yarns, this piece dates to circa 1970 to 1980 (i.e. post Vietnam War era). The Keith Harring (ish) anthropomorphic images are quite unusual. Provenance- Rob C. Clark Ethnobotanist PhD...

Lovely vintage wearable woman’s dress from the Tai Dam ethnic group Vietnam. The “waist band” is all hand woven cotton cloth, while the black central panel is black raw silk, colorful silk embroidered wide bordered hem is particularly nice. Good condition, with a couple of fading streaks at the waist panel, as well as a repair in the last enlargement. Old piece- made in the 60’s or 70’s. W: 136cm/54in and L: 97cm/38in. Free shipping

1# Vintage woman’s peasant dress from Isaan, Eastern Thailand. Good condition and very wearable. Made of all handspun cotton cloth with silk embroidered wide hem border. Width at waist: 151cm/59in and L: 86cm/33.8in. 2# Vintage woman’s peasant dress from Isaan, Eastern Thailand. One faded spot otherwise good condition and very wearable. Made of all handspun cotton cloth with silk embroidered wide hem border. Width at waist band: 128cm/50.5in and L: 84cm/33in.

Hardwood vintage sculpture of an African ancestor image, from the Songye ethnic group, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Old piece, circa 1960s or 1970s a couple of cracks and repairs.. H: 45 cm/17.8in.

Fine vintage, unused (as new) elegant hand loomed men’s longyi, classic checkered pattern (reverse image on the back). I bought this in Mae Sai around 1988, W: 1.74m and L: 1.09m. Has a few minor stains but otherwise condition excellent. Free shipping via Hong Registered Airmail.

Semi antique blanket or sarong from the Stieng/Xtiêng ethnic group Vietnam. Over 60 years. Woven from all handspun cotton threads and is unusually large for a single panel. There is one ink stain and a small hole (see cover image- there is a stain on the right and further down and small hole). W: 100cm/39.8in and L: 185cm72in.

Very fine old skirt from a Northern Chin ethnic group, Myanmar. The indigo dyed upper panel is woven with very soft handspun local cotton while lower embroidered panel is all silk. Please note enlargements to see the delicacy of the work. Circa: early to mid 20th century. Good condition. L: 138cm/54in and W: 80cm/31.5in. Free shipping.