Chinese Peking Opera Theatre Puppet, Chaozhou Doll, Qing Dynasty

This exquisite Biedermeier porcelain bathing doll, dating back to around 1820, is a fascinating piece of early toy history. During the 19th century, these dolls were used as floating...

Ichimatsu Ningyo doll is a Japanese shell limestone doll from the Meiji period. The doll body as well as the head, forearms, hands, legs and feet are made...

This exquisite Biedermeier porcelain bathing doll, dating back to around 1820, is a fascinating piece of early toy history. During the 19th century, these dolls were used as floating...

This exquisite Biedermeier porcelain bathing doll, dating back to around 1820, is a fascinating piece of early toy history. During the 19th century, these dolls were used as floating...

This Chinese opera hand puppet is dress in an elegant, embroidered silk dragon robe. The puppet head is of painted wood. The white face usually represents a villain. Puppetry is a major entertainment performance art in Chinese traditional theatre. This traditional performance art was widely used in religious and rural events to exorcise evil spirits. Puppets are also used in festivals such as the Chinese Ghost Festival to scare away ghosts, as well as significant events including births or marriage or to entertain audiences. The puppet theatre has developed into several different genres amongst different areas in China including rod puppets, glove puppets, shadow puppets and string puppets...

Chinese Qing Dynasty Bronze Statue of Seated Happy Maitreya Buddha. A Chinese bronze statue from the late 18th century Qing Dynasty period is ca...

Hand puppets, like this one from China’s Zhejiang region, have been a popular form of entertainment for centuries. In the late 19th early-20th century this tiny robed gentleman proba...

A Chinese Qing dynasty period leather drum from the 19th century, with turned wood red mallet. This Chinese Qing dynasty period leather drum from the 19th century is a captivating piece that brings together historical craftsmanship and aesthetic appeal. The drum, with its circular form, is covered in leather that showcases the patina of age, a testament to its enduring presence over the centuries. The drum is complemented by a turned wooden mallet...