19th Century Sculptures and Carvings

Rare okimono carved in the thickness of an elephant tusk depicting a life-size pigeon. It stands on a hollow trunk, inside which hides an owl. A small 4mm...

An excellent mid 19th century French Caen stone architectural fragment on stand reputedly from a church destroyed in WWII. With its beau...

This is a guaranteed authentic old Chinese jade bi cache of ninety four (94) discs from the Qijia culture, Northwestern China. Including our “Certificate of Authenticity” To worship heaven with a bi explains their importance and use in ancient Chinese culture. This group would make an instant collection for reference study, trading, making into your own pendant jewelry, or new year gifts. Dimensions will vary: 1.5-2.8 inches diameters. Quality will vary from good to fair- please refer to the photographs. Shapes will include round, nearly round, and irregular styles. Serious parties may request more photographs. A brief history follows. Note the stunning green and brown calcification and hues combination. We acquired these 20 years ago on one of our dozens of trips to China, northwestern China, Lanzhou area. Provenance: 1 Our private collection and accompanied by our Guarantee of Authenticity. History: Flat jade discs with a round central hole bi are among the earliest surviving artifacts of China and must be considered among great ancient art forms- masterpieces of the Neolithic period. Nephrite jade from which discs were fashioned is a prime hard and strong stone, arduous to work by hand using stone...

Called ‘pagode’ (or pagoda) figures, these Meissen Porcelain models are based on the sculptures of deities found in pagoda temples in the Far East. Meissen began to produce these kinds of porcelain figures in the early 18th century, prompted by the demand for the Far Eastern ‘pagodes’ being imported into Europe at this time. The Meissen factory in Germany was founded in 1709 and was the first producer of true porcelain wares in Europe. The company’s main patron was Augustus II the Strong, the Elector of Saxony and King of Poland. Meissen was, and continues to be, famous for its tableware, vases, candelabra, animal sculptures and figures, like this pair, which were often graceful and light-hearted in character. These models feature the Meissen mark of the two blue crossed swords on their undersides. These porcelain models take the form of a Chinese couple...

Historical Bell- Immediately Useable First ever to be offered A genuine temple used de-accession 96 inch prayer bell with original wooden handled rope from a shrine in Nakamura Ward, Nagoya, Japan An extraordinary opportunity to acquire, collect, use and display the largest scale 18” temple bell of this kind we have ever seen in private hands- including its original wood and hemp rope pull- a Japanese authentic hand cast copper Shinto Suzu bell. The auspicious temple shrine from which this bell comes, was founded in 1156 to honor Ojintenno, who was the 15th emperor of Japan. It was commissioned in part by Minamoto no Tametomo, who was a famous Samurai, who is known as possibly being the first samurai to commit Seppuku. Its big 18" high and 12" diameter bell including a massive hand carved wooden pull handle measuring 17 inches in length shows patina from great age, dates to the late 19th century, and was formerly rung outside a Nagoya Temple great hall where it was enjoyed by members of Japan's local Shinto communities. This bell was authentically rung at this temple shrine. We will include the original 96 inch rope pull with massive 17 inch long hand carved wooden handle. In total, this is an extraordinary copper bell which includes its rare original wood and hemp rope pull. Important: Please view the actual insitu photograph of this amazing relic before it was deaccessioned. This huge old bell dates to the late 19th century period, displays an impressive patina from age, and sounds impressive. It's lower half portion has been purposely hand-hammered by design to improve its sound- this is not damage. The Suzu Shinto bell...

A rare Indian Islamic carved calligraphic marble tile, circa 1860 Hand carved with a cusped cartouche containing lines of dense thuluth calligraphy. Sitti...

A Chinese Qing Dynasty period stone temple pedestal from the 19th century with hand-carved motifs. Created in China during the Qing Dynasty, this temple pedestal features a linear si...

A 19th century Chinese standing priestess sculpture made from terracotta during the later stages of the Qing dynasty with traces of original paint. This small hollow statue displays ...

Important Chinese antique Daoist sculpture of the "Emperor of the North Pole", Hsuanwu or Hsuan Tien Shangti, Qing dynasty (1644-1911), hand-carved an...

To keep her elaborate hairstyle intact while sleeping, a well-to-do Qing-dynasty woman would use a rigid headrest or neck pillow to keep her head elevated. Whether functional or pure...

This carved limestone charm promises longevity in the form of the immortal peach. According to Chinese mythology, the Jade Emperor’s palace was surrounded by peach trees that provided ripe fruit every three thousand years. A single bite of this charmed fruit...

Often referred to as “Fu Dogs” in western culture, these handsome stone sentinels are iconic gatekeepers seen throughout China and elsewhere in Asia. Traditional symbols of protectio...

Here's one of the most beautiful Chinese antiques we have ever found in our travels in China over the past three decades. This is a one-of-a-kind antique sandstone lintel which when installed and displayed could be a handsome addition to your decor. It dates to the 18th century of the Qing dynasty. It still retains remnants of its original poly chrome surfaces. The carving and detail is deep and very fine. Depicted are a pair of writhing dragons competing for the fabled -wish granting jewel- and possibly water waves beneath- all auspicious signs. Dimensions: 13 inches high and 71 inches wide and 14 inches deep Photographs taken in natural light in our garden. Rare work of art. Provenance: originally found in Chengdu Province and has been part of family collection since its acquisition in 2004. Lifetime guarantee of authenticity. We are members of NAJGA- North American Japanese Garden...

Qing period (18th-19th century) marble window frame with subtle decoration of lotuses and vegetal patterns. These kind of small openings are often referr...

A pair rare and fine ceramic with san-cai guardian lions, lively modeled with intricate details, lively modeled, beautiful colors.