OD01
Early 20th c., possibly older. Was acquired in the early 1990’s. Antique incense vessel in the form of a dragon turtle with turtle lid and red ceramic pearl in it’s mouth. Smooth and shiny glazed surface with impressed makers chop mark on bottom. Bixi or Bi Xi, is a figure from Chinese mythology. One of the nine sons of the dragon king, he is depicted as a dragon as a dragon with the shell of a turtle. Sculptures of Bi Xi are traditionally rubbed for good luck. In this specimen, the tail serves as a giant handle and the head is like a giant spout or vent for incense smoke. The dragon turtle symbolizes courage, determination, fertility longevity, success and support. It should either face toward your front door to invite serenity and peace into your home or alternatively face towards a window that requires extra protection from bad spirits. Ideally you don’t want the dragon turtle facing directly towards you when sitting. It’s important to place the dragon turtle with intention and respect. 13 in. x 21 in. x 12 in.
OD02
Late 19th - early 20th century. Hand carved, red lacquered dragon motif chalk line plumb box. A chalk line or chalk box is a tool for making long straight lines on relatively flat surfaces. These were used for making much longer lines than are practical by hand or with a straight edge. They may be used to lay out straight lines between two points, or vertical lines by using the weight of the line reel as a plumb line. In historical China, craftsmen and carpenters made their own tools. They considered their tools to be an example of the quality of their work. Dragons. of course, were a common theme as the dragon is a legendary creature capable of controlling wind and rainfall in Chinese mythology. It flies up to the sky on the vernal equinox and hides in deep waters on the autumnal equinox. In this sample, charcoal was likely used rather than chalk. Long decommissioned from practical use, this chalk box lives on as a storied sculptural object. Size 13 in. x 5 in. x 4.5 in.
OD03, OD04, OD05, OD06
Late 19th - early 20th c. Of this collection of four gilded hairpins, the main and largest pin is made of silver and jade. The midsize piece is clearly rendered to represent a beetle or scarab and is also crafted from silver. Hand made, quite lovely samples of late 19th c. craftsmanship. “ Han Chinese women wore their hair in upswept styles held in place by a jelly like liquid made from a certain kind of wood shavings steeped in water which was brushed through the hair. When set, this mixture held every strand in place. Into this stiff arrangement large number of hairpins were put. They were made from gold, enamel, silver or semi-preciousstones such as jade or coral and fashioned into insects, birds or butterflies. “ - from Valery M. Garrett, A Collectors Guide to Chinese Dress Accessories. Largest pin-.5 in. Smaller pins- 3 in. (each)
OD07
Late 19th- early 20th c. Antique foot binding stool with hand woven linen binding cloth. Small black black lacquered stool with one drawer and small cabinet chamber. The top is decorated with a spool of linen binding cloth. The practice of foot binding meant breaking or deforming girls and young women’s feet by by applying painfully tight bindings, folding four toes backwards make the feet appear smaller. Small feet, sometimes referred to as “lotus” feet, were considered beautiful, (and erotic), and were a sign of social status in later life. The smallest feet were the most desired by suiters. This foot binding stool was used to make the bandaging process easier. Before going to bed, the bandages were removed and new clean bandages were applied from the roll of linen at the top of the stool. These new rolls of binding cloth were stored in the drawer or small hinged cabinet along with alum powder, an astringent that would be sprinkled in between the toes in between binding changes. Binding cloths were used to force the toes underneath the sole of the foot. At the beginning of the process, feet were tightly bound to get them used to the process. They would then be bound tighter and tighter over months. Over time the toenails were often removed with tweezers and natural liquid solutions so the tonsils didn’t grow into the bottom of the foot. 28 in. x 12 in. x 15 in.
OD08
Late 19th - early 20th century. Ivory Fung-Shui compass The earliest first known Chinese Feng Shui Compass is more than two thousand years old. When the Chinese "invented" the compass, it was for feng shui and not for navigation. This reflects the Chinese mindset – improving the living area for the benefit of people, not navigation of the land and the seas. These principles are at work in Chinese culture today as much as it was back then. This antique hand carved ivory compass is decorated with auspicious symbols animals, and figures that illustrate various elements of the Chinese zodiac. On the inner space of the octagonal shape, surrounding the compass needle, is the Bagua. The Bagua is a set of symbols intended to illustrate the nature of reality as being composed of mutually opposing forces reinforcing one another. Bagua is a group of trigrams—composed of three lines, each either "broken" or "unbroken", which represent yin and yang. Size 5 in. x 5 in.
OD09
20th c. Carved resin. The Three Immortals. Fu, Lu, and Shou, the three immortals are known as the Three Star Gods, or San (three) Xing (star) in Chinese. They represent fortune, prosperity, and longevity. Fu Xing is the star god symbolizing good fortune and happiness (middle). Lu Xing, on the left, is the god of prosperity, and symbolizes career success. 12 in. x 4 in. x 3 in.
Fu is the personification of good fortune. He is generally depicted in scholar's dress, holding a scroll, on which is sometimes written the character "Fu". He may also be seen holding a child, or surrounded by children.The Lu star is believed to be Zhang Xian who lived during the Later Shu dynasty. The word lu specifically refers to the salary of a government official. As such, the Lu star is the star of prosperity, rank, and influence. The Lu star was also worshipped separately from the other two as the deity dictating one's success in the Imperial Examinations, and therefore success in the imperial bureaucracy. The Shou star is the star of the South Pole in Chinese astronomy, and is believed to control the life spans of mortals. According to legend, he was carried in his mother's womb for ten years before being born, and was already an old man when delivered. He is recognized by his high, domed forehead and the peach which he carries as a symbol of immortality. The God of Longevity is usually shown smiling and friendly, and he may sometimes be carrying a gourd filled with Elixir of Life. Traditionally, they are arranged right to left with Fu is to the right of the viewer, Lu is in the middle, and Shou on the far left.