Important Ancient Chinese Zodiac Figure Holding a Snake, Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644

China, a carving of a canine “Pug”, Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644 CE Dimensions: 38 cm, 15” High Photographs taken indoors and out of doors for your viewing pleasure. The hand carved limestone beast shown on its haunches with naturalistic joyful expression and a well defined compact head, ears, noes, eyes, feet, and tail parted to one side on reverse with distinctive collar ornament seated four square on a thick base all-over showing a weathered surface from significant age. Formerly exhibited “Asia Week” New York City, Fuller Building, Hutton Gallery 2006. Provenance: ex collection luoyang, Henan Province, China. Includes custom display base as shown Catalog reference: 35 years collecting 35 treasures, Number 35, p.76 (photo) In ancient China, it is a well-known fact that several types of small dogs were bred and were favored pet gifts between emperors and kings including Lion Dogs, Pekingese and Lo-sze breeds. Some Lo-sze are pictured wearing collars with bells a frequent combination fancied by European royalty of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Lo-sze or pugs were prized for their compact body, good bones, flat face, square jaw, short coat, curled tail, side set back ears, and temperate disposition. History: Placing stone animals in important tombs can be traced back at least to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE), some two thousand years ago. In ancient times, stone animals and human figures placed before imperial tombs symbolized royal power and privilege in addition to decorative functions. The first Ming tomb...

China an ancient limestone figure of an Entertainer replete with hands holding tambourines and a top a drum, -for the afterlife- , Han dynasty 206 BC...

China, Ancient Bronze “Money Tree” Yaoqian Shu with original pottery base, Han dynasty (25 BCE – 220 CE) Dimensions: 155cm, 62 inches high A sculpted terracotta pottery base in the form of a tortoise with attendants and inserted with five individual bronze pole segments with twenty four individual hanging bronze open work money “branches” attached in tiers, four per tier and topped with a figure of a bronze phoenix as apex most bearing varying degrees of malachite and azurite encrustation from ancient burial. Important Description Details: Pottery "tortoise" base: 14.5" high and 11" wide Bronze sections: 7pcs pole bronze sections approximately 8" length each 1pc top "phoenix" bronze section approximately 7" high and 6" wide 20 pcs long bronze hanging wings approximately 10" long and 5" wide each 4 pcs short bronze hanging wings (near top) approximately 7" long and 4" wide each Total 32 pcs with ancient green and blue azurite patina. Catalog reference: Schneible Fine arts catalog - 35 Years Collecting Treasures- Number 11p. 28 (see photos) Provenance: Provenance: Private family collection formerly exhibited “Asia Week” New York City, Fuller Building, Zabriskie Gallery, 2008. History of money trees: In the late Han Dynasty tombs...

China, a rare hand carved stone male figure from the Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE). Dimensions: 16 inches tall on its custom stand and and 6 inches wide Condition: old patina wi...

China, a large votive model of a stone ram, Han dynasty (206BC-220AD) Dimensions: 45cm, 18 inches high and 65cm, 26 inches length and 25cm, 10 inches wi...

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...

A Chinese Ming dynasty period glazed terracotta funeral table mingqi from 15th-16th century with food and drinks. Created in China during the Ming Dynasty, this terracotta funeral table showcases a typical Chinese altar, painted in green with tempera and adorned with a lovely variety of modeled and painted miniature food and drinks such as cakes. Called Mingqi, these kinds of terracotta models were traditionally placed in Chinese burials...

A Chinese Ming dynasty period glazed terracotta funeral table mingqi from 15th-16th century with food in dishes. Created in China during the Ming Dynasty, this terracotta funeral table showcases a typical Chinese altar, painted in green with tempera and adorned with a lovely variety of modeled and painted miniature foods such as cakes and breads. Called Mingqi, these kinds of terracotta models were traditionally placed in Chinese burials...

Bucket burns perfume in bronze resting on three feet. The body is sculpted with a band frieze with an archaic motif. Two inverted U-shaped handles punctuate the edge. This type of bronze bucket was cast with lost wax from molds in several parts and assembled when the piece was poured, these are the traces that can be seen on the back of the bucket. . The bronze has a beautiful green and dark gray excavation patina. This perfume burner was originally to have longer feet, no doubt arched, cut very long ago since the place of the cut has the same patina as the rest of the piece. China Zhou Dynasty...

A rare 16-17th cenury Ming Dynasty standing table screen. Untoched original condition. Hand carved wood, the panel is carved with relief details depicting a dragon, cranes, mythical...

A Chinese Ming Dynasty period miniature terracotta armoire with green glazed finish and bracket feet. Created in China during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), this miniature terracott...

An unusually large Chinese Ming Dynasty glazed pottery architectural model of a shrine or cabinet, Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), circa 16th century, China. The shrine model crafted o...