Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Southeast Asian (36)

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.

Nice old black and red lacquered cylindrical woven bamboo box from Northern Thailand No holes or broken bits. L: 19.5cm/7.2in and D: 4.5cm/1.8in.

Good Kayan Orang Ulu gawai rice festival ceremonial mask, circa 40 years old, from Sarawak. I bought this piece in Kuching, Sarawak in 2003. Used only twice a year for rice planting and harvesting festivals (gawai), these gatherings were usually a good excuse for a party and celebration to encourage the spirits to ensure a good harvest. H: 25cm/9.8in and W: 16cm/6.2in.

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.

Phallic charm from Lamphun Northern Thailand- serendipitously enough, where they have an annual sausage festival...

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.

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...

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”...

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

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.

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 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...

Fine old rattan/bamboo splitting knife used in basket making. This has a great natural patina on the handle with decorated “butt”, circa first half 20th century. The blade still carries a sharp edge and is still quite serviceable. L: 44cm/17.2in (blade is 11cm/4.2cm). Excellent condition.

Finely detailed woman’s full length three paneled tube sarong from Ende, Flores Island, Indonesia. I bought this in 1988, this was used when I bought in Ende and has remained in storage since then. All natural dyes and handspun, hand woven cotton. Pristine condition with soft and comfortable weave. W: 150cm/59in and L: 1400cm/55in.

Large vintage “bush knife” from Lanna Thailand, this is an all purpose tool with a thick spine and very sharp edge- quite heavy as well. The blade is fixed with a steel collar and woven rattan and comes with a bamboo basket type sheath. Total L: 54cm/22.2in (blade L: 29cm/11.5in and handle L: 25cm/10.5in). This is an artisanal village made piece and not mass produced.

Nice old Cambodian lacquered basket. Very few things survived the reign of the Khmer Rouge which makes old baskets quite rare. Circa 70 years old, there are some old repairs noted in the enlargements. D: 30cm/11.8in and H: 11cm/4.2in.

Unusually large lacquered betel container with two inner trays, from Karen ethnic group. Circa first half 20th century, some loss to the bottom. H:11.5cm/4.5in and D: 12.6cm/5in.

Basket from Northern Burma probaby from the Rawang or other Kachin related group. . Approximately 50 or 60 years old. Increasingly difficult to source, this is a fine example of Burmese tribal basketry. Condition: good natural polished feel to the surface, a couple of “breaks” on upper rim of basket. The hole in the handle lid seems to intentional, as it has the same wear as the rest of the piece. Dimensions: 20cm/8in height 15.5cm/6.2in diameter.