Chinese Coconut Cup

This intriguing sterling silver cup features the shell of a coconut mounted into exquisite silver. A sublime example of elegant Georgian design, the cup features delicate scalloped edging as its singular motif. It is extraordinary to find such a beautiful example of this lost art, exhibiting a rare combination of classical beauty and exotic charm. The use of rare and exotic materials such as the coconut became popular across Europe during the Middle Ages, when it was believed that these unique materials from distant lands possessed mystical powers. It was held that they could detect, and even deter, the effects of poison and as such were employed as drinking vessels, often mounted with ornate embellishments of silver. As more trade routes opened up during the 16th century, materials such as the coconut became more widely available, though still only afforded to the wealthy minority in Europe and England. And, while they eventually lost their appeal for their magical powers, coconuts proved an ideal material for cups and pots and retained their popularity as such. Very similar silver-mounted coconut cups...

This exquisite Chinese export silver mirror is a work of exotic beauty. Elegantly shaped and monumental in size, this looking glass is held within ...

Beautifully stylized and crafted in the form of protective mythological creatures are these exceptional 18th-century Indian bronze palanquin finials. Palanquin, or “palki”, are litte...

This rare Chinese hanging vase, carved of fine moss-in-snow jade, boasts a host of dragons, the most potent symbols of good fortune in China. Its intricat...

This remarkable Japanese portable writing set contains the instruments of sublime artistic expression. Also known as a yatate, this Meiji-period set i...

This limited edition glass cup memorializes the accession and imminent abdication of King Edward VIII. Titled the Prince of Wales on his 16th birthday, Edward was crowned King of England in January 1936, but famously and scandalously abdicated his throne after less than a year in order to marry the American divorcee and socialite Wallis Simpson...

A master-carved Chinese stone head of Buddha featuring a serene face with Fine sculpted features, flanked by long pendulous ear lobes. This impotent...

A remarkable Chinese life sized painted stucco head of a luohan, Song, Liao or Jin Dynasty, circa 11th century, China. The amazingly life-like figure depicts a luohan (sometime spelled lohan), also known as an arhat, one of the original disciples of the Buddha. The elderly man has been molded in stucco with inset glass eyes and painted with idealized, if slightly exaggerated features. The unidentified luohan sports a bald, or perhaps shaved, domed head above a bulging forehead, symbolizing his vast wisdom. The wrinkles in his furrowed brow, and creases around his eyes add to his realism. The learned man stares out wisely from deep set, heavily lidded inlaid glass eyes that catch the light. The luohan has high cheekbones and a prominent jawline. His lips full and pursed as if about to speak. The corners of his mouth turned up ever so slightly in a faint smile, causing his gaunt cheeks to dimple charismatically. A series of dots above the upper lip indicate he may originally have sported a mustache of real hair. This life sized head with extremely realistic features fits into a very narrow time frame of Chinese Buddhist art. Perhaps the most recognized group of large, finely molded Chinese luohan...

A Chinese hand carved and hand painted wooden effigy of an extraordinary unicorn dating to the Song dynasty before 1279 AD. Please enjoy the beautiful remnants of its aged original swirling painted surfaces. Period: Song dynasty Dimensions: 16 inches high and 31 inches long and 4 inches deep Certificate of Age: Radiocarbon Test, GX-32990, 1223-1279 AD, 02/13/2008 (see photo of certificate) Provenance: This is from a private collection and were acquired by us along with a larger wooden horse...

Antique terracotta figures Han style from my private collection: collected about 35 years ago and never exibited to the public. A certificate Oxford test would be needed: I don't have it, so I'm accepting offers: I want to close my activities and I have a beautiful Chinese collection, see the other ones published under my name enrica pasino.

Extremely early Chinese Buddha. This piece measures a substantial 9 1/4 inches tall and 11 inches with its custom base. Rare and special-it has one of th...

Chinese carved coral figure of a woman's face Very finely hand-carved. Late 20th Century, China Weight: 182 grams with base Dimensions: approx...