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Chinese Printed Blue and White Headrest
Located in Chicago, IL
This square ceramic block is actually a form of Chinese headrest or neck pillow. Popular during the Qing dynasty, rigid headrests such as this were used by upper-class women to protect their elaborate hairstyles by elevating the head during slumber. This decorative example dates to the mid-20th century and is printed with an idyllic scene in the style of Chinese propaganda illustrations. Two young girls pause their farm work to read beneath a pine tree, with farm land...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Tibetan Repoussé Silver Fitting with Dragons, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This unusual piece of silver hardware is wonderfully patterned with intricate Tibetan repoussé decoration. Comprised of two thin silver plates linked ...
Category
Early 20th Century Tibetan Metalwork
Materials
Silver
Chinese Peacock and Peonies Headrest
Located in Chicago, IL
This square ceramic block is actually a form of Chinese headrest or neck pillow. Popular during the Qing dynasty, rigid headrests such as this were used by upper-class women to prote...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Tibetan Repoussé Silver Fitting with Dragons, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This unusual piece of silver hardware is wonderfully patterned with intricate Tibetan repoussé decoration. Comprised of two thin silver plates linked ...
Category
Early 20th Century Tibetan Metalwork
Materials
Silver
Blonde Reclaimed Wood Tablet Holder
Located in Chicago, IL
An elegant holder for any tablet created of elmwood reclaimed from 18th-century northern Chinese buildings. Custom made by our PAGODA RED artisans.
Category
2010s Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Elm
Pair of Chinese Canopy Bed Curtain Hooks with Money Toads
Located in Chicago, IL
This fantastic pair of etched brass hooks recreates those used throughout the Qing dynasty to hold open the gauzy curtains of traditional canopy beds. Each of the large hooks is affixed to an etching of the Daoist immortal Liu Hai and his animal companion, the three-legged Money Toad. Known as Jin Chan...
Category
20th Century Chinese Qing Metalwork
Materials
Brass
Chinese Turquoise Glazed Dispensing Vessel, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This petite ceramic vessel dates to the early 20th century and was used like a water cooler to store and dispense cold beverages such as ice water or rice wine. The ceramic jar has a...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Ceramics
Materials
Brass
Chinese Fu Dog Stone Snuff Bottle, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A mixture of finely powdered tobacco, herbs, and spices, snuff was introduced to China in the 17th century by Western diplomats. Initially reserved for ranking members of Qing-dynast...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing More Asian Art, Objects and Furniture
Materials
Stone
Tibetan Silver Snuff Bottle, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This early 20th century Tibetan snuff bottle is delightfully ornate, crafted with silver metalwork and encrusted with colorful beads. The small bo...
Category
20th Century Tibetan Qing Metalwork
Materials
Silver
Pair of Chinese Longevity Relief Scroll Cases, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Delicately carved of dense hardwood, these 19th-century scroll cases were an essential accessory for the esteemed Qing-dynasty scholar. The perfect size for a rolled-up scroll, the cases were once used to store and protect works of traditional calligraphy and landscape painting.
The matching cases are hand-carved in low relief with all-over scrollwork and borders of geometric meanders. Each case is carved with repeated Shou characters, symbols of longevity and a blessing for a long and complete life. Amid the scrollwork flourishes are ribbon-clad objects known as the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism, including the eternal knot...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar s Objects
Materials
Hardwood
Dark Glazed Chinese Kitchen Jar, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A lustrous brown glaze coats the slender tapered form of this late 19th-century kitchen jar. As evidenced by the glazed interior, the jar was once used daily in a Qing-dynasty kitche...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Ceramics
Materials
Terracotta
Chinese Oval Hand Mirror with Mother of Pearl Inlay, c. 1930
Located in Chicago, IL
This large, early 20th-century hand mirror is set in a fine hardwood frame decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay of flowering vines. The handle is decorated with plum blossoms and a b...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Hardwood, Mother-of-Pearl
Pair of Round Chinese Hand Mirrors, c. 1930
Located in Chicago, IL
These charming hand mirrors date to the early 20th century and feature round mirrors set within turned hardwood frames. Minimally decorated, the pair is simply carved to showcase the tight grain and even coloring of the fine hardwood. The handles are shaped with smooth, hourglass contours that fit in the hand nicely.
From the collection of Frances and Gary Comer.
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Hardwood
Tibetan Silver Snuff Bottle, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This early 20th century Tibetan snuff bottle is delightfully ornate, crafted with silver metalwork and encrusted with colorful beads. The small bo...
Category
20th Century Tibetan Tibetan Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Silver
Tibetan Mountain Landscape Coffer, circa 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This low two-drawer chest is a 19th-century coffer from northern China or Mongolia and was repainted with bright colors in the early 20th century in the style of Tibetan painted furniture. The top surface has been painted with verdant mountainous landscape dotted with grazing animals, colorful flowers and dancing figures. Crashing waves churn along a river in the foreground and plumes of smoke billow from hilltop fires in the distance.
The front panels and drawers are painted with intricate scrollwork and ribbon-clad Buddhist auspicious symbols, including the parasol, the treasure vase, the conch shell, the endless knot, the pair of golden fishes, the banner of victory, and the wheel of life. These symbols of good fortune represent the offerings that were made by the gods to Shakyamuni Buddha when he attained enlightenment. The sides are painted with a lotus flower surrounding the Three Jewels...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Tibetan Tibetan Furniture
Materials
Hide, Wood, Paint
Chinese Art Deco White Sofa, circa 1920
Located in Chicago, IL
In the 1920s-30s, Shanghai, China was swept up in the Art Deco design movement. Design, architecture, art, fashion, and furniture were all influenced by this modern movement, permeat...
Category
Vintage 1920s Chinese Art Deco Sofas
Materials
Fabric, Hide, Hardwood
Provincial Chinese Wooden Headrest, circa 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Made of Chinese northern elmwood, this smooth block of wood was once used as a rigid headrest or neck pillow. The soft curve and height of the block not only supported the head while...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Rustic Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Elm
Chinese Provincial Glazed Kitchen Jar, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
As evidenced by the interior glaze, this wide-mouth jar was once used in a provincial Qing-dynasty kitchen for storing food and condiments. The large vessel has a gently tapered form...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Ceramics
Materials
Terracotta
Chinese Drip Glaze Kitchen Jar, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Coated inside and out with a rich drip glaze, this early 20th century jar was originally used for storing foods and condiments in a Provincial Chinese kitchen. The wide-mouth jar has...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Ceramics
Materials
Earthenware
Provincial Chinese Half Table, circa 1800
Located in Chicago, IL
With clean lines and a simple Silhouette, this 19th century half table from Shanxi province expresses the restraint of classical Chinese furniture design. Crafted of northern elm (yu...
Category
Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Furniture
Materials
Elm
Ornately Carved Chinese Luohan Bed, circa 1550
Located in Chicago, IL
This gorgeous luohan daybed anchors its surroundings with its monumental scale and incredible carved decoration. Known as a luohan chuang, or couch bed, this form of low-backed daybe...
Category
Antique 16th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Elm
Tapered Chinese Kitchen Jar, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A rich, dark brown glaze coats the gently tapered form of this late 19th-century kitchen jar. As evidenced by the glazed interior, the jar was once used d...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Ceramics
Materials
Terracotta
Vintage Chinese Deco Gold Bar Cigarettes Advertisement Poster, c. 1930
Located in Chicago, IL
This 1930s advertising poster for the Gold Bar Cigarettes company draws from a well known Chinese opera scene. It melds the meticulous detail of trad...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Art Deco Prints
Materials
Paper
Vintage Deco Advertisement Poster, c. 1930
Located in Chicago, IL
This poster from the 1930s melds the meticulous detail of traditional Chinese painting with the craft of color lithography—and a side of risque. The poster features a young woman dressed in a fur-trimmed coat with Western accessories...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Art Deco Prints
Materials
Paper
Vintage Chinese New York Cigarettes Advertisement Poster, c. 1930
Located in Chicago, IL
This commercial advertisement poster from 1930s Shanghai melds the meticulous detail of traditional Chinese painting with the craft of color lithography. Large companies often presen...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Art Deco Prints
Materials
Paper
Vintage Chinese Deco Medicine Pharmacy Advertisement Poster, c. 1920
Located in Chicago, IL
This advertising calendar poster dated from 1920 for the "Chinese and Western Medicine Pharmacy" melds the meticulous detail of traditional Chinese painting with the craft of color lithography. Compared to other Western influenced advertisements of the era featuring seductive women, posters like this one captivated consumers with the latest fashion trends. We see a woman with a Western hair cut...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Art Deco Prints
Materials
Paper
Vintage Chinese Deco Advertisement Poster, c. 1930
Located in Chicago, IL
This commercial advertisement poster from 1930s Shanghai melds the meticulous detail of traditional Chinese painting with the craft of color lithography. Large companies often presented posters such as this to their clients to commemorate the Chinese New Year. This poster depicts a young woman luxuriously...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Art Deco Prints
Materials
Paper
Vintage Hu Boxiang Cigarette Calendar Poster, c. 1931
Located in Chicago, IL
The famous commercial advertising artist Hu Boxiang created this advertisement calendar poster for the British American Tobacco Company in 1931. Unlike other poster artists, Hu was k...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Art Deco Posters
Materials
Paper
Vintage Chinese Hatamen Brand Cigarette Advertisement Poster, c. 1935
Located in Chicago, IL
With its product discretely located on the lower left, this early 20th century Shanghai poster for Hatamen cigarettes uses a dramatically rendered imag...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Art Deco Prints
Materials
Paper
Vintage Victory Cigarettes Advertisement Poster, c. 1930
Located in Chicago, IL
This poster from the 1930s melds the meticulous detail of traditional Chinese painting with the craft of color lithography and a side of risque. Posters like this one, influenced by ...
Category
Vintage 1930s Chinese Paintings and Screens
Materials
Paint, Paper
Vintage Chinese Deco White Horse Cigarette Advertisement Poster, 1936
Located in Chicago, IL
This calendar advertisement poster for White Horse cigarettes was produced by Hu Boxiang, a famous commercial advertising artist in Shanghai during the 1920s-1930s. Framed in a highly ornate floral border, a fashionable woman poses while gathering plum blossoms, emblems of winter and eternal beauty. Dressed in a traditional qipao but with Western hairstyle and accessories, the woman reflects the rising influence of Western advertising and the Art Deco movement during the economic boom of early 20th century Shanghai. Beneath this scene is a calendar for the year 1936, surrounded by packs of prominent cigarette brands...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Art Deco Prints
Materials
Paper
Vintage Chinese Deco Excel Cigarettes Advertisement Poster, c. 1930
Located in Chicago, IL
This poster, a advertisement calendar for excel cigarettes from the 1930s, melds the meticulous detail of traditional Chinese painting with the craft of color lithography. This advertisement depicts a fashionable woman in traditional Chinese dress...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Art Deco Prints
Materials
Paper
Vintage Chinese Lithograph Advertisement Poster, c. 1930
Located in Chicago, IL
This advertising poster from the 1930s melds the meticulous detail of traditional Chinese painting with the craft of color lithography that was popularized in China during the econom...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Art Deco Prints
Materials
Paper
Vintage Chinese Lithograph Advertisement Poster, c. 1920
Located in Chicago, IL
This poster from the 1920s melds the meticulous detail of traditional Chinese painting with the craft of color lithography. The poster depicts two young girls gathered by an ornate stool...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Art Deco Prints
Materials
Paper
Chinese Double Guardian Headrest, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
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...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Animal Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Brown Drip Glaze Vessel, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Tracing its roots back into the Han dynasty, this early 20th-century vessel emulates the full-bodied shapes and unusual glazing found in ancient ceramics...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Ceramics
Materials
Ceramic
Japanese Iron Tetsubin with Chrysanthemum Blossoms, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Decorated with stylized chrysanthemum blossoms, symbols of longevity and rejuvenation, this Japanese teapot was used to boil water for traditional tea ceremonies. Known as tetsubin, ...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Metalwork
Materials
Bronze, Iron
Pair of Framed Chinese Ancestor Portraits, circa 1880s
Located in Chicago, IL
Believing that the departed continue to hold influence over the lives of the living, many Chinese households honor their ancestors in private family rituals, invoking their spirits for long life, health, and prosperity. Commemorative portraits, which came into vogue in the late Ming and Qing dynasties, were commissioned specifically for ancestor worship and were believed to house the spirits of the deceased. When properly cared for, one's ancestors were believed to be a powerful source of honor, protection, and good luck.
This pair of ancestor portraits was hand-painted in the late-19th century and beautifully depicts a Qing-dynasty couple. While some ancestral portraits offer a more stylized representation of one's ancestors, this particular pair is painted with incredible realism and life-like expressions. Rather than depict the pair in a regal hall wearing elaborate finery, the couple is shown in a quiet home environment, seated at either end of a square tea table. Their surroundings are minimal, practically undecorated, and they wear simple, matching blue silk robes. Two young children stand beside them, each trying to capture the attention of their grandparent. We love the painting's close attention to detail and the glimpse it offers of Qing-dynasty interiors - from the carved apron of the marble-top table to the red silk lotus slippers...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Materials
Paper
Chinese Marigold Yellow Storage Coffer, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
While most Chinese lacquered furniture is black or red in color, this 19th-century storage coffer is colored by a marigold-yellow lacquer finish with a wonderful crackled texture. Th...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Furniture
Materials
Brass
Chinese Slatted Turn Chair, C. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This unusual early 20th-century chair can be raised or lowered with just a turn of the seat. A chair in two parts, the slatted seat and high back are connected to the square base by ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Furniture
Materials
Iron
Chinese Shallow Wine Table, C. 1800
Located in Chicago, IL
Made for sharing and offering wine and spirits, this small table once gathered together convivial imbibers who engaged in group toasts and robust consumption. Dated to the 19th centu...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Chinese Qing Furniture
Materials
Wood, Elm
Bronze Wrathful Deity Ring, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This sculptural bronze object is a charming example of 19th-century metalwork. The bronze figure is formed as a Buddhist wrathful deity, weari...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Mounted Objects
Materials
Bronze
Chinese Gilt Limestone Stele of Maitreya Buddha
Located in Chicago, IL
This intricate limestone stele of a standing buddha likely depicts Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future. The only Buddhist divinity revered as both a bodhisattva and a Buddha, Maitreya is prophesied to return to Earth some time in the distant future and continue the historic Buddha's teachings of the Dharma. Like the historic Shakyamuni Buddha, Maitreya is a compassionate being devoted to showing the path to enlightenment.
Carved in the style of sixth century Chinese statuary...
Category
20th Century Chinese Qing Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Limestone
Chinese Famille Rose Baluster Jar with Ancient Censers, C. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Beautifully commemorated on this lidded baluster jar, censers have been used for thousands of years in Chinese culture as a part of funeral rites or prayer offerings. Filled with dried aromatic plants and essential oils, the censer issued fragrant smoke that forged a connection to the spiritual realm. This late Qing-dynasty jar...
Category
20th Century Chinese Qing Jars
Materials
Ceramic, Porcelain
Chinese Petite Coffer Chest, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Perfectly proportioned for its petite size, this low elmwood chest is the ideal place to stow odds and ends. The charming cabinet has all the features of a traditional Chinese coffer - straight recessed legs, curving spandrels, and a floating-panel top that moves with the seasons. The small chest has a single shallow drawer...
Category
Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Buffets
Materials
Wood, Lacquer, Elm
Chinese Reverse Glass Table Screen with Floral Still Life, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Prevalent in fine Chinese interiors as early as the Tang dynasty (618-906), standing screens with decorative panels served numerous functions as portable architecture. Used to sectio...
Category
Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Paintings and Screens
Materials
Glass, Wood
Burmese Yun Lacquer Tray, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This round tray dates to the early 20th century and is a simple example of Burmese lacquerware. The tray is formed of thin bamboo strips that have been woven and coiled into shape, h...
Category
Early 20th Century Burmese Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche
Materials
Bamboo
Monumental Chinese Stone Guanyin Head, c. 1800
Located in Chicago, IL
As the embodiment of compassion, Guanyin is the most beloved enlightened being in China. Known as the Goddess of Mercy, she is the female bodhisattva form taken by Avalokitesvara in eastern Buddhism and is instantly available to all who call upon her with their mind. Though commonly depicted as a woman in Chinese statuary...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Chinese Qing Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Stone
Japanese Red Lacquer Negoro Hibachi with Rabbits, Edo Period, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
With monumental scale and beautiful, hand-carved details, this remarkable red lacquer hibachi is a true work of art. Designed to hold glowing embers, hibachi vessels such as this were used for cooking or as a source of heat in Japanese homes. Placed under a low wood kotatsu table...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Lacquer
Materials
Metal, Bronze, Copper
Pair of Chinese Stone Door Posts with Mythical Elephants, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Passing through these impressive posts, a visitor to a Qing-dynasty estate would know he was entering someplace special. Used in a traditional courtyard entry to secure the doors as they swung open, these hand-carved posts are nonetheless ripe with symbolism. Double dragon medallions...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Pedestals
Materials
Limestone
Provincial Chinese Courtyard Stool, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Dated to the turn of the century, this provincial stool would have been used throughout a courtyard home as versatile everyday seating. Hand-crafted of pine, the tapered stool...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Rustic Stools
Materials
Pine
Petite Bronze Garuda Figurine
Located in Chicago, IL
This petite bronze figurine is cast in the form of Garuda, a demigod and mythical king of birds in Hindu and Buddhist faith. Taking the form of half-bird...
Category
20th Century Chinese Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Chinese Interlocking Tri-Leg Stool, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Deceptively simple, this early 20th century stool from Shanxi province shows off the ingenious joinery methods traditionally used by Chinese carpenters. The stool's three splayed leg...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Rustic Stools
Materials
Pine
Provincial Chinese Glazed Water Jug, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This 19th-century kitchen vessel is coated inside and out with a dark brown glaze that clings to its ribbed sides with subtle color variation. Designed for serving water or tea, the squat jar features a narrow neck, small strap handles, and a short spout for pouring. The rounded shoulders are brushed with simple linework in a contrasting light brown glaze. Textured with pitted wear and other imperfections, the rustic vessel is wonderful as an unusual vase...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Ceramics
Materials
Ceramic
Chinese Carved Stone Snuff Bottle
Located in Chicago, IL
A mixture of finely powdered tobacco, herbs, and spices, snuff was introduced to China in the 17th century by Western diplomats. Initially reserved for ranking members of Qing-dynast...
Category
20th Century Chinese Qing Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Stone
Chinese Blue and White Fu Lion Headrest
Located in Chicago, IL
This small ceramic block is actually a form of Chinese headrest or neck pillow. Popular during the Qing dynasty, rigid headrests such as this were used by upper-class women to protect their elaborate hairstyles by elevating the head during slumber. This example dates to the late 20th century and is glazed in the blue-and-white style with a stencil-transfer design.
Each side of the headrest has a quadrilobe cartouche framing two mythical fu lions playing with a brocade ball, a motif that evokes the idiom "may you and your descendant achieve high rank." A powerful and benevolent guardian, the fu lion (shizi) is the perfect force to protect against nightmares and bad energy.
The playful scene is surrounded by a cracked ice pattern dotted with plum blossoms, symbols of winter and longevity. A geometric meander trims the corners and small bats frame coin...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Chinese Famille Rose Plates with Garden Scenes, C. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
During the 18th century, Europeans provided an eager market for Chinese export porcelain, especially the colorful and fanciful ware known as “famille rose.” Named for a palette of opaque overglaze enamels that favored roses and pinks, famille rose porcelain ware was crafted with the same technical virtuosity as imperial porcelain but designed for Western tastes.
This pair of fine porcelain dishes is a beautiful example of famille rose, decorated with pastel enamels in a palette of purple, turquoise, and pink. The center of each plate is decorated with a calm scene of a woman and a young boy in a garden, surrounded by flowering plum branches and lingzhi fungi of immortality. The scene is bordered by an all-over purple fish...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Fossil Stone Snuff Bottle
Located in Chicago, IL
A mixture of finely powdered tobacco, herbs, and spices, snuff was introduced to China in the 17th century by Western diplomats. Initially reserved for ranking members of Qing-dynasty society, the practice provided an opportunity to display one's refined aesthetic through collectible snuff bottles.
This petite snuff bottle is carved from a conglomerate stone embedded with small fossils...
Category
20th Century Chinese Qing Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Stone
Chinese Carved Stone Snuff Bottle
Located in Chicago, IL
A mixture of finely powdered tobacco, herbs, and spices, snuff was introduced to China in the 17th century by Western diplomats. Initially reserved for ranking members of Qing-dynast...
Category
20th Century Chinese Qing Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Stone
Gilt Burmese Musician Figure, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This seated Burmese figure captures a musician in eternal song. The wooden figure is hand-carved with a seated posture, legs crossed and arms outstretch...
Category
Early 20th Century Burmese Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Glass, Wood
