Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art (64)

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.

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.

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...

Ensemble of 6 pieces of vintage jackets. The are hand sewn silk, probably from the 1970's (+/-). Dimensions and condition in enlargement text.

Women’s skirt from the Bahnar (Ba Na) ethnic group from the Central Highlands of Vietnam, woven from fine handspun cotton using all natural dyes. The weaving is very intricate and refined, note the use of narrow warp ikat bands throughout this piece. This is one single panel which would have used to make three other skirts. See last enlargement for a complete example. L: 2.9meter/9.5feet and W: 66cm/26in. I have two complete skirts- please contact if interested.

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”...

Nice old Karen woven bamboo lacquered box from the Thai/Burma border region, this has a few old repairs but overall good condtion. Circa 40 to 60 years old. D: 13.25cm/.2in and H: 8.53cm/33in.

Rare woman’s skirt (pukhang) from the Kachin/Jingpo ethnic group, Northeast Burma. This is two panels with supplementary weft trim on the ends made of dog hair. Mostly natural dye and indigo. It is quite a durable weave with denim like feel. There is some staining, one small hole as well as a bit of dye bleeding. I could only find examples this in “Textiles of the Hill Tribes of Burma”: Michael C. Howard (plate 107) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art: Accession Number: 2002.312...

Good Karen basket waterproofed with natural tree lacquer, good condition- i.e. no damage. Circa 40 to 50 years- purchased in the 1990s in Mae Hong Song, along the Thai/Burmese border. I was back there recently and old baskets have all sold out. See last enlargement for reference.

Semi antique, large woman’s sarong from the Stieng/Xtiêng ethic group Vietnam. Over 60 years old, this is woven from all handspun cotton threads. There is a patch, 7cm x 2cm fray on one edge and small 1cm hole. L: 203cm/79on39.8in and W: 94cm/37in.

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...

Very rare complete jacket back panel from the remote Miao Jiupang group from Jiahe County, Guizhou province (see last enlargement), with purple embroidered pattern between the spaces in the tin decoration. This style of decoration is unique to this group and very difficult to make, as every tiny bit of tin has to be individually cut and crimped. Recently acquired from a private Hong Kong collector, these are the first examples I have send of these I have seen in the past 10 years...

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...

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.

Rare semi antique supplementary warp silk embroidery on handspun indigo cotton, blanket from the diverse Tai ethnic group Vietnam/Laos. I collected this in Chiang Mai around 12 years ago and would date it around 40 to 80 years old. Nowadays you just can’t find this sort of textile anymore. Some embroidery losses and a hole along the edge (noted in enlargements) but overall in very good condition. Dimensions: 84cm/33in x 145cm/57in.

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.

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...

Good woman’s skirt panel or apron from a Yunnan ethnic minority, approximately 50 to 70 years old. All the elements in this piece are hand made, even the ribbon along the border which is often machine made (even in old pieces). The beads along the edge are made of seeds. This piece has some old repairs which I have noted in enlargements. The overall embroidered pattern is a combination of white cotton while the greens and reds are either silk or a cotton and silk blend...