Catalog (58)

Ensemble of very old beads, I found these in a small shop in Phrae, Northeast Thailand a few years ago. The green mottled beads are late Qing Dynasty Peking glass, the brown glass tapered tube bead emulating agate was probably made for the Funan or Chenla Kingdoms as I have agate beads from the same period which are pretty much identical, the white bead with orange splash is at least early Qing. The jewel in the crown, so to speak, is the roughly faceted blue glass Chinese eye bead whi...

Huge Pyu silver coin from Sri Ksetra, circa 6th/7th CE. There is some pitting on “bhadrapitha” side. Will clean up! D: 3.4cm/1.3in, approximately 11 grams. Free shipping via Hong Kong Registered Airmail.

Two strands of colorful and quirky glass bangle fragments drilled and reworked into beads. These are Persia, circa 6th CE - 7th CE which would make them late Sassanian Empire or early Islamic Era. L: 54cm/21.2in and 59cm/23.2in. See last enlargement for scale. Please note the tiny beads at the end are a combination of ancient Indo Pacific and Pyu glass beads. Free shipping via Hong Kong Registered Airmail.

Elegantly simple burnished high fired pottery cup from Warring States to Early Han Dynasty. There is one crack and a couple of chips noted in last enlargements. Pretty much to be expected from an over 2000 year old pottery piece. D:9.9cm/3.9in and H: 7cm/2.7in.

Exceptionally rare, handled drinking vessel from the Liao (Khitan) people, circa 907 CE to 1279 CE. There are very few Liao pottery pieces in collections today so this piece would of interest to anyone specializing in this period. Please note last enlargement for reference of a similarly shaped gilt silver piece dating form this period. This particular type of jar shows a much closer affinity with Central Asian cultures than the Han. There are two filled chips and crack on the handle, ...

Tang/Five Dynasties, stoneware jar with light olive green glaze and reddish clay body. The foot is rimless and concave. There is a “Jun” type glaze run on the body noted in enlargements- probably unintentional but interesting nonetheless. I have done simple repair on the mouth by filling a shallow chip and applying a layer of gold leaf. H: 12cm/4.8in and D: 9cm/3.5in.

Lovely two handled pottery jar from the Northern China circa (2200 BCE – 1600 BCE) in near perfect condition with just a couple of minor chips on one handle. H: 12.9cm/5.1in and W: 11.8cm/4.7in.

Two Lopuri Culture aventurine jewelry pieces. 1#: Long rectangular bead, from Central Thailand circa 500 BCE. Good transparency. Damaged on one end and the lengthwise hole only goes from the undamaged end to the second hole. L: 6.6cm/2.6in and W: 7mm/.3in x 5mm/.2in. 2#: Fine small aventurine bangle from early same Lopburi Thai Bronze Age Culture. This item is slightly flattened at the bottom but in perfect original condition. Outer D: 6.2cm/2.4in and inner D: 4.6cm/1.8in. Free s...

Old nephrite chord fastener, this shape and style are usually associated with horse tack and bridles. This archaic style has been found in the Tang and Liao periods. L: 2.7cm/1.1in, W: 2.1cm/o.8in and 1cm/0.4in thick. 12 grams.

Rubbing taken from a Han Dynasty tomb vault wall depicting an elegant royal mounted entourage being greeted by courtiers. Excellent detail, horizontally mounted as a scroll with textured silk border. The calligraphy translates “Outstanding old scene” signed Zhao Jianchang. L: 197cm/76in x H: 58cm/23in, with mounting-L: 243cm/95in and W: 68cm/27in.

Strand of ancient Afghani glass beads, circa Roman era. These are original beads (not re-carved bangles or glass vessel fragments). Some are decorated with gold leaf, others exhibit dichroism. Traces of calcification. A total of 27 beads (note 3 are broken). Total length: 50cm/19.8cm- note last enlargement for scale- 17 grams. Free shipping.

Pristine Jatim Millefiore bead circa 600-900CE, Pre Islamic Javanese Hindu era. Perfect condition. L: 17mm x W: 18mm. Perfect condition. Free shipping.

1# Good buff pottery jar from the QIjia Neolitic Culture (circa 2200 BCE – 1600 BCE,) Gansu Province. I old chip on the rim, noted, otherwise very good condition. H: 15.1cm/6in and D: 9.7cm/3.8in. 2# Lovely two handled pottery jar from the Northern China circa (2200 BCE – 1600 BCE) in near perfect condition with just a couple of minor chips on one handle. H: 12.9cm/5.1in and W: 11.8cm/4.7in.

Four shades of Pyu glass beads excavated near the ancient Pyu city of Sri Kstera, (modern day Pyay), Burma, circa 200CE- 1100CE. Beads from Sri Ksetra are well documented in Early Landscapes of Burma- Elizabeth Moore & Early Cultures of Mainland Southeast Asia- Charles Higham. Please see enlargements for scale. The green beads are very rare, and their colors are sublime, I have seen black beads in mixed strands before but this only one I have ever seen that is completely black. Please en...

Good silver coin circa 900-1000CE from the ancient Burmese, Pyu Kingdom of Bekthano. The dating of these old coins are all over the place on online resources. Please view last enlargement for a published reference (this is the closest thing I can find to it)~ The Early Coins of Myanmar (Burma), pg 114, 56a. This has a classic rising sun obverse pattern with Srivatsa symbol on reverse. Diameter: 30mm and weight : 10 grams.. Free shipping.

Copper coin from the Byzantine Empire circa 1371-1378CE. Michael VII Doukas bust of Christ flanked by stars and crowned bust of king. Diameter 25mm. Free shipping.

Lovely pottery small lead glazed stove from the Eastern Han Dynasty (202 BCE – 220 CE). Minor fritting and a couple of chips on the upper corners, but overall, in very good condition for a two thousand year old piece. There are still random traces of the silver patina on the surface. I scraped off a small section the surface layer and a beautiful silver patina is revealed (see enlargement #5), up to the buyer of they want to clean the whole piece. See last enlargement for reference from...

Rare grey pottery recumbent dog, circa Han Dynasty. Traces of original white pigments- very friendly looking “doggo”. Excellent condition. L: 25cm/9.8in and W: (midpoint) 8cm/3.1in.

Good shell pendant made from a conch from the Ban Chiang or Lopburi Bronze Age Culture, Central Thailand circa 300BCE- 200CE- possibly much older. The spiral is one of most ancient of all designs, it is understandable why people would find this so attractive. D: 6cm/2.4in.Free shipping.

Fine and rare large conch shell pendant from Central Thailand Bronze Age, Ban Chiang or Lopburi cultures circa 300BCE-500CE. Superb condition with minimal calcification may still be worn! The spiral is one ancient humans most universal motifs in adornment, it is understandable why people were drawn to this. Included is a museum quality perspex stand (total H: 14.5cm/5.6in). Maximum D: 7.7cm/3in and W: 3.4cm/1.5in. There areas with traces of an azurite color indicating this was buried ...

Unusual pottery bowl with hand molded snake handle. I cannot find any pieces similar in style to this although the reddish clay and heavy potting are reminiscent of Hongshan pottery. This came out of China and has a good petrichor and water absorption on the base, very old- at least 2000 to 3000 years old but probably older. W: 14cm/5.5in and H: 12cm/4.7in.

130.00 Beautiful circa 600CE to 700CE Pyu coins. The larger coin has a srivatsa (temple), on one side and celestial symbol and rising sun, on the other- 1/2 unit sterling quality silver. This coin has been punctured and at one time had small silver loop soldered to it. The smaller one, also pierced, has a bhadrapitha – pedestal for a deity and srivatsa, and is from Sri Ksetra. ¼ unit D: 8mm. These we acquired from Golden Triangle Hill Tribe who still these use these in their jewelry...

Good Tang Dynasty gray clay brick/tile depicting “Atlas” type, Yakshi figure seated on a lotus blossom. I was in Taxila, (cradle of Gandharan Civilization) and saw a similar figure. This illustrates the Greco/Roman influence in Tang art. The lotus shows indicates an obvious Buddhist connection. The left side of the face is molded a bit obscure, but no damage. An unusual piece, in that it is smaller than the other ones I have had- ergo cheaper shipping. H: 16cm/6.2in and W: 10cm/4.1in...

Rare pair of three legged, brown glazed pottery barbeque grills. The Han Dynasty was unique in making replicas for cooking in the afterlife. These two pieces are in excellent condition with very minor fritting and no damage; please note that there is still a bit of the original soil it was excavated in stuck to the surface, with a bit of patience this can be cleaned off. The food items on the grill are cicadas and fish. I don’t know if they actually cooked and ate cicadas, but they have al...

Very rare Warring States jar with ribbed pattern. I’ve seen these in publications, but this is the first one I have seen in person. There is one chip on the mouthrim, as can be seen in enlargements, but otherwise in excellent condition. Very sharply carved with decorated lugs. H: 13cm/5.1in and D: 16cm/6.2in.

Classic Han Hu shaped jar with beautiful lead spinach green glaze with much sought after silver patina. Excellent condition. Note: spur marks and supports on rim and foot. H:12.6cm/4.9in and D: 11.1cm/4.3in.

Special offer: 4 Tang Dynasty terra cotta statues, all have had repair i.e. heads glued back on- (two are not the original heads). The amber glazed figure has the original sancai glaze though not very shiny. Dimensions note in enlargement text.

Rare early “si zhi” (four straight lines) style inkstone carved from an old fired brick. The characters on the brick are in an archaic style, no longer in use today. The square shaped flat bottomed inkstone with sloping grinding surface did not become popular until the Song Dynasty, so it is possible this was made into a inkstone long after it was a brick. Chinese are very fond of creating ink stones out of “found objects” such as roof tiles etc. Please examine enlargement for co...

Special Offer: Marked down from $250- now $200. Green mottled glazed censer with classic little bears as legs, some loss of glaze in the back noted in enlargements and a few chips on the mouth rim and legs. D: 21cm/8.2in and H: 13.2cm/5.2in.

Special Offer: “Fixer Upper”- Han ceramic well with dragon head roof, and classic lead green glaze and silver patina. This is broken into three pieces and would need to be repaired (I would recommend two part epoxy) please note that in the cover image it is just being held together with gravity. I would prefer to sell “as is” but can offer a repair but cannot guarantee it will arrive in one piece. H: 40cm/15.8in.

Nice Han pottery jar with traces of original reddish pigment, lovely shape with wide flaring mouthrim, please note the mouthrim has been repaired-highlighted in enlargements. H: 28cm/11in x D: 26cm/10.2in

Two strands of Kushan/Bactrian of mixed stone (mostly carnelian) beads. I acquired these along with coins dating from 1st- 4th CE from the same site in North West Pakistan, so these can be dated no later than 1500 years old. There are a few agate and quartzite beads in the lot, some with traces of “etching”. The crescent shaped beads would have originally small ringed shaped ornaments that have been drilled and “knapped” to some extent to accommodate them being strung. Please not...

Small bronze spoon from the Han Dynasty, these were usually found with miniature bronze cooking stoves, good study piece for fans of ancient Chinese bronze. There is crack that may be seen last enlargement. L: 9cm/3.5in. Free shipping.

Good bronze bell from the Vietnamese Bronze Age, late Dongson Culture- Dong Khoi phase, circa 600 BCE-200CE. No breakage or repair comes with simple perspex stand. H: 9.6mm/3.8in and base W: 7.3cm/2.8in. Free shipping

Chinese burnished Neolithic bowl with side lugs, there is a repair on the edge noted in last enlargement and some of the black pigment in the design is not original. Majiayao culture circa 3000BCE. D: 12cm/4.8in and H: 6.8cm/2.6in.

Chinese Neolithic high fired, well potted jar with side lugs. Very good condition with original pigment and no repair- just some small chips on the mouthrim- please examine enlargements. Majiayao culture circa 3000BCE. D: 12cm/4.8in and H: 12cm/4.8in