DESCRIPTION: A traditional Tibetan mala consisting of 108 ox-bone beads, some inlaid with bits of turquoise and coral, others wrapped in silver, copper or brass bands. This one is quite old and is all original with no repairs. DIMENSIONS: Hanging length is 17” long (43 cm) to end of the knotted string.

CULTURAL BACKGROUND: Malas are strings of beads used as an aid to prayer and the recitation of mantras in the B... Click for details

DESCRIPTION: A handsome Chinese smoking pipe with finely turned bamboo stem, bulbous bowl with brass-tipped knobs and turned ivory mouthpiece. Excellent condition, and a wonderful example of Chinese folk art; Qing Dynasty, early to mid 19th C. PROVENANCE: From the collection of Shanghai French expat Jean-Philippe Weber, whose collection has been featured prominently in the book, “China Style” by Sharon Leece. DIMENSIONS: 13 ½” long (34.3 cm).

DESCRIPTION: A Chinese toggle in the shape of a drum, crafted from green nephrite jade with heavy brown veining. Two holes with an adjoining track pierce the top for threading a cord. Toggles were used by men in Chinese cultures as counterweights to other objects such as tobacco pouches or travel utensils that would be suspended from a belt or sash. This nice old jade toggle has smooth wear, is in good condition, and dates from the 19th C. or earlier, Qing Dynasty. DIMENSIONS: 1 5/8” diamete... Click for details

DESCRIPTION: A Qing dynasty bamboo pipe, perhaps used for either opium or tobacco, with a bulbous body crafted from a large segment of giant bamboo. Mounted onto this segment are heavy brass fittings, one for the tubular “tobacco bowl” with its long brass shaft descending into the body. The other brass tube holds the long, bent bamboo stem that is used to draw the smoke out. Very good condition with a nice patina. DIMENSIONS: 16” high assembled (40.5 cm). The bamboo body is 3 ¾” wide (9.5 cm... Click for details

DESCRIPTION: Three similar Chinese travel utensil sets, 19th to early 20th C., each wood case wrapped in tortoise shell with brass mounts, and all with original knives, bone chopsticks and pics, finished with ivory tips on each end. Sets such as these would have been worn suspended by a cord from the belt with a toggle for a counterweight. Minor chips to the tortoise shell, but everthing is original with no repairs and all in good condition. PROVENANCE: From the property of the Salgo Trust for ... Click for details

DESCRIPTION: A Chinese peach toggle (guajian) crafted from a flat piece of burl with large spreading leaves, representing longevity in Chinese iconography. Two holes on either side of the stem were used for threading a cord from which this toggle would have been suspended as a counterweight to some other object, such as a tobacco pouch. A nice example of Chinese folk art dating from the mid 1800’s or earlier, this toggle is in overall fine condition with normal signs of use. DIMENSIONS: 1 ½” ... Click for details