20th Century Sculptures and Carvings

To keep her elaborate hairstyle intact while sleeping, a well-to-do Qing-dynasty woman once used this ceramic headrest as a pillow. The headrest is shaped as a crouching house cat, w...

This is an old Japanese wood carving of a chimpanzee. It is from the mid-Showa period (1940s-1960s). It is made of camphorwood. It is a dynamic work boldly carved from a large tree....

Ice carved Bi disc Steel stand Smoke crystal Hand carved Limited edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique.     

An attractive Chinese Heavenly jade Bi disk carved in a rarely found combination of yellow and green jade with patches of brown accents in the stone that depict a green earthy feel. ...

An attractive Chinese Heavenly jade Bi disk carved in a rarely found black jade with patches of blue and brown accents in the stone that depict an earthy ancient feel . This comes from our private collection which we formed over a period of twenty years while traveling extensively through out all of China. Dimensions: bi disc is 5 inches high with custom stand as shown; bi disc only is 4 inches diameter Jades were handmade and hand abraided and hand polished using tools of the time: bamboo, stone, water and stone dust . Notice the considerable calcification on the bottom edge of this example- evidence of submersion and good age. Provenance: Our private collection and accompanied by our Schneible fine arts Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity. Jade bi and Cong History These bi are regarded as cosmological symbols and as signifiers of status and wealth. These jades are hand abraided and hand polished using special polishing tools with stone, water. Notice the beautiful colors and "waves" pattern in the stone, uncommon in this kind of jade. Provenance: Our private collection and accompanied by our Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity. Early 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 Primitive...

This is an old Japanese wood carving figurine. It is thought to have been made around the Taisho period to the early Showa period (1912-1950). This is an ornament made using a tree l...

This is an authentic Chinese old jade bi disc from Northwestern China from the Qing dynasty or older. It comes from our private collection. It inc...

A charming and delightful Japanese Kutani enameled porcelain figure of a bijin or geisha, early Showa Era, circa 1930's, Japan. The elegant figure of a beautiful woman, called a bijin, portrayed dressed in full kimono and holding a fan in one hand. Her kimono of deep black with scattered cherry blossoms in white and outlined in gilding. Her wide obi of coral color, and patterned with stylized clouds of turquoise green and puce. One foot, clad in a white tabi...

Since ancient times, people have created and passed down necessary tools from familiar materials to survive in the severe struggle against nature, and have nurtured a lifestyle cultu...

It is a wooden folk craft in the shape of a bear. Mainly manufactured in Hokkaido. It is a wood carving made from 1930 to 1950. The eyes are made of glass. This type is rare in Japa...

This is an old Japanese wooden object. It is thought to have been made during the Showa era, approximately 1930-1980. I don't know the type of tree. It is made using the roots and kn...

A heavy and well cast South Indian bronze figure of Shiva Nataraja, or Shiva as Lord of the Dance, in the Chola style, late 19th or early 20th century, India. Shiva is portrayed here in his form as Nataraja, the Lord of the Dance. An iconic and powerful image, Shiva is portrayed engaged in his dance of creation, protection, and destruction, bringing together all his aspects into one sublime form. Shiva dances ecstatically, facing the viewer with his body twisted, his long locks of hair streaming out around him, his four arms in action, with one leg raised, the other stomping on the dwarf demon Apasmara, who represents spiritual ignorance. In one hand he holds a damaru, or ritual drum...