Chinese Sunflower Printing Block

This pair of decorative red lacquer signs dates to the late 19th century and is carved in relief with a poetic couplet. Carved to resemble ink calligraphy, the couplet reads: "Do good deeds without questioning your happiness, pursue knowledge without forgetting your principles." The long, vertical signs...

Chinese innovations in ink, block printing, and movable type fueled global advancements in printing technology, expanding the range of influence of the written word. These printing i...

Chinese innovations in ink, block printing, and movable type fueled global advancements in printing technology, expanding the range of influence of the written word. These printing innovations can be attributed to Chinese Buddhist devotees, who embraced woodblock printing as an important vehicle to spread sutras and good spirits. Though the printing press is said to have been invented in China, it never offered the same efficiencies to Chinese culture as it did in the West, due to the near endless numbers of Chinese characters and the labor involved in manipulating them. Enclosed in a contemporary wooden frame, each of the miniature wood blocks included in this early 20th-century type set was hand-carved with a Chinese character. Each is a unique and wonderful curiosity, providing an unusual look at a moment in time. Each set contains approximately 70 individual tiles.

This delightful pair of early 20th Century wall sconces exemplifies French Art Deco lighting with sculptural form and a soft, delicate appeara...

Happening upon an intersection, a traveler in Qing-dynasty China would have been grateful for the guidance of this limestone path marker. Still bearing traces of its original pigmentation, each side of this marker is inscribed with directions. One side directs towards the Zhen De Teng household, another towards the Liang family, and a third towards the North East Road. The fourth inscription announces the year of its construction, the 33rd year of Emperor Guangxu (1908). This second-to-the-last emperor...

Hand-crafted from reclaimed wood, this artist-made koi is a traditional symbol of harmony and wealth. For Buddhists, such a fish represents a freedom from all restraints. The scales ...

19th century auspicious carved panel story board. Chinese carved wooden panel of one solid piece of carved wood set in a wooden frame. A C...

A large hand carved Chinese wood panel, hand painted. The early 19th century panel with lion, elephant and a male figure deeply carved in high relie...

Nicely carved and framed pair of high relief carved and painted panels. Subtle colors with age appropriate worn finish carved depicting cranes (birds) amongst flowers standing in wat...

A Chinese vintage camphor wood low-relief wall plaque from Zhejiang depicting a celestial guardian on a mythical animal. Created in Eastern China during the midcentury period, this w...

Beautiful antique hand carved panel dating back to the Chinese Quing Dynasty 1850s. On one side there is a red wax seal. The panel features a rich and elaborate decoration with anima...

A 19th century Chinese wall plaque hand-carved in lacquered rosewood. This large rectangular wall plaque displays a lobed medallion on its centre. The hand carved frame showcases an enjoyable flower and bird scene, a common and auspicious pattern in Chinese tradition. Here a bird lands among cherry tree flowers and bamboo. The entire plaque is made of rosewood, a luxurious and soft Chinese redwood...