Chinese Elmwood Sign

This impressive sign was once hung above the entrance to a Chinese ancestral hall. It is made from planks of Elmwood covered in layers of thick black tree lacquer for protection from...

The sign is of Burmese origin, made from teakwood and covered in lacquer and gold leaf. The two legible characters are “Jade” and “Art”. As many carved signs were shop signs, this may have been a jade dealer’s sign...

This elegant wall lattice once fit inside tracks in the floor and ceiling for easy removal. Though visually simple, close inspection reveals the lattice t...

Bamana tribe art is known for masks, textiles and architectural elements. This Y-shaped post supported a heavy roof timber and acted as a welcoming symbol...

This grand piece of moulding once framed an entrance or part of an ecclesiastical structure in a great church. Classical elements are seen in the rectangular dentil moulding and flo...

This Teakwood pediment carving came from a Northern Thai house. Pediment carvings were part of the traditional architecture system and were found under overhanging roof gables. We know it was a residential roof (and not a temple's) because of the shallow angle. Temple roofs are much steeper and usually temple exteriors were painted, so some pigment would usually remain, particularly towards the top. Thai houses were made from solid teak --walls, roofs, floors; everything. They were always raised on stilts to remain above seasonal flooding, snakes and other forest creatures. The area below the house was used for animals and storage. The Thai architectural wall system (including pediments) always employed heavy beams and thin floating panels. Visually these wall panels are very attractive and richly textured on account of exposure to moisture. Teak is very resistant to moisture and insects, so the lifespan of teak exterior parts can be over 150 years. The antique pediment...

A scarce pair of Qing Dynasty temple architectural ornaments, the decorative antique building element fragments each elaborately hand carved, polychrome painted and lacquered, richly detailed featuring two figural pairs accented...

An original matched pair of exceptionally carved Chinese temple architectural ornaments, the ornate decorative brackets salvaged from an early Qing Dynasty temple, the richy detailed...

A Chinese Antique Shop Sign with Carved Calligraphy from the 19th century with dark brown/black lacquer, calligraphy carved in low relief and iro...

A Chinese late Qing Dynasty period red lacquered shop sign with hand carved calligraphy and black and yellow frame. Showcasing a rich history, this late Qing Dynasty period Chinese s...

A Chinese Qing Dynasty period red lacquer shop sign from the 19th century with carved and lacquered calligraphy. This Chinese Qing Dynasty period shop sign is a remarkable artifact f...

Unique hand carved wood trade sign from China, 1890s. The sign with hand carved Chinese lettering with gilt highlights. The black background with a gilt border.