CH464. What a gorgeous colour of beads. These are not
a true red but a little more like raspberries. They mix beautifully
with other colours. There are both roundish wound beads and wound
and flattened beads - all with slightly irregular holes passing through
them. Strand #1 - 24 inches long, Strand #2 - 22 inches long,
Strand #3 - 23 inches long, Strand #4 - 24 inches long,
Strand #5 - 22 inches long.... $60.US/each strand. (all are sold)
CH465. This is an unusual piece strung together in China.
A door - hanging? It has a hefty group of beads on it (largest is
1 1/3 inches across) topped by a rooster (2 1/4 inches across) and the
entire piece is 20 inches long (not including the loop on top). There
are some nice Peking glass beads hidden between the silver too. "The
crowing of a rooster petrifies evil spirits so a rooster represents protection,
as well as reliability and courage. The crowing also symbolized achievement,
male vigor, and fame so silver roosters were worn by boys and men for both
protection and success in their endeavors" $550.US.
(sold)
CH466. These are antique silver tools which are usually hung
in groups from pendants. These need new purposes. They are
all attractive and still have uses. The longest ones are longer than
3 1/2 inches. $24.US/each pendant (#1
& #3 are available)
CH468. This is an odd combination but I have left it as it
was when I bought it. The strand of ancient beads brought out of
Thailand is strung on fishing line so desperately needs re-stringing.
Onto the loop below is hanging a stone "earring" which could fall off if
one was just a little bit careless. According to "A World of Earrings"
- "Archaeologists have found a number of stone and shell ornaments in tombs,
their extreme hardness and durable character served symbolically to protect
the souls of those whom they accompany on their new life. The motif
of the open hoop, with a central hole, is a metaphor for the live-giving
power of the woman, and was found throughout the South-east Asian mainland
and islands until the twentieth century." The strand of shell, carnelians,
and stone is 22 inches long, and the loop of tiny tradewinds beads hangs
2 inches below. The stone disc is 1 2/3 inches across.
$275.US.
CH471. The colours of these Peking glass beads are much richer,
deeper, and more wonderful than they appear on the scan. I cannot
possibly bring up these colours on the scanner. - strand #1 (double strand
- each one about 27" long) - $150.US. Strands #2 (glowing indigo
blue - 24"), #3 (rich deep turquoise - 24") & #4 (bright
turquoise - 23") are $75/each strand.
(#1 is available)
CH472. Large flower money $110.US/each. It maks a stunning
pendant with a cord running through the two holes. Small
flower money $35.US/each. (#2 is available - a
large one)
CH475. I have sold strands of these beautiful green/blue ancient
glass beads from Cambodia before, but these are smaller beads on shorter
strands. They are beautifully and richly coloured in a way that is
impossible to show on the scan. These are wound beads with good sized
holes in a range of sizes and shades. Some of the beads are glossy
and other beads have the slightly textured porous look of ancient glass.
The beads are approximately 10th Century AD. These small (average
5/16 inch across) glass beads are about 22 inches in length. - $155.US/each
strand
(#1 & #2 are available)
CH476. 
These are Chinese
glass beads meant to sit on a post at the top of a man's hat. They
remind me of "marble beads" but they have a very different use and these
are much more rare and difficult to come across. These beads have
lost their posts and hats years ago, but still shine attractively - The
large clear one (1 1/2 inches across - huge!) is $165.US. The 2 transparent
beads (about 1 1/8 inches across) flecked with pink are $135.US/each.
The two less bright ones (one is 1 1/8 inch across, and the second is just
a little less...) but still attractive - are $110.US/each.
CH479. This is not an antique bracelet but a fairly new one.
It is attractive though, and portrays the traditional dragons of China.
The bracelet is hollow and fairly light to wear. The inside opening
is 2 1/2 inches across so it is for a larger than average wrist.
The height of the sides is 1 1/4 inches at the widest, and 1 inch at the
smallest at the back opening. $95.US.
CH482. This is the smallest of the wound bracelets - it just
has a hint of spiralling. The bracelet is just under 2 1/2 inches
across and can be gently tightened by an experienced jeweller. $69.US.
CH484. I think that this is a Chinese magical pendant as it
shows the yin-yang and the Trigrams. According to "Four Centuries
of Silver" - "The Chinese art of divination centers on the Eight Trigrams,
sometimes referred to as the Eight Diagrams. Their use was formalized
in the Zhou dynasty by Wenwang, who wrote his famous Book of Changes--the
I Ching--while a prisoner of the tyrant King Zhou Xin in 1144 BC.
Today the I Ching enjoys tremendous popularity in both the East
and the West."
"The Eight Trigrams symbolize Heaven, Earth, Water, Fire, Lake, Wind, Thunder, and Mountains. The unbroken lines are male, the broken ones female. Often depicted with the ying-yang in the middle, the eight patterns may be configured to obtain the sixty-four hexagrams that constitute the text of Wengwang's oracle book. In Qing dynasty China, a man hung the silver Trigrams from his waist or around his neck, thus protecting himself from danger." Do buy the book to learn more... The pendant is not very thick, so light to wear. It measures 3 3/8 inches across at its widest and has a 24 inch long chain. - $320.US.
CH487. Inside of bracelet (needs a light cleaning - dish soap
and toothbrush) is 2 3/8" by 2 1/8". $150.US.
CH443. This large disc pendant (bellack mutiu) was bought
in West Timor/Atoni and is made of good solid silver - made in the first
quarter of the 1900s. These discs were made as part of a man's armour
as something to reflect his abilities. The disc is a thick
layer of silver and quite flat but has a hammered edge to it that stands
straight up just over 1/16 inch tall. You can see hammer marks
all over it giving it a lightly rippled finish. On the middle part
of the pendant is a strong breast shaped dome standing about 3/4 inch tall.
This stands in a 6 pointed star yearning for the heavens. I
am lucky to have a few discs for sale - doubly lucky as they are rare pieces
to have and I am enthralled by them. This is 6 3/8 inches across
and if you don't want to wear it, it would look amazing suspended for display....
- $350.US.
CH445. This silver button was bought in NW Laos and worn by
an Akha woman. It can be shined up to glow if you like - right now
it has an unpolished finish. This is 3 1/8 inches across...
a quite simple with softly hammered design - double holed at each end to
create an interesting stringing arrangement if you like...
$45.US.
CH446. This is a beautiful, glossy, nicely engraved flower
disc/button (with two loops soldered on for suspension) from NY Laos -
This is 4 1/2 inches across and worn by the Akha... It makes
a great and dramatic pendant strung onto a simple strand of beads and sitting
close to the throat. It would make the pages of the current fashion
magazines... $140.US.
CH451. This is a thick old silver heavy bracelet that feels
strong and dramatic. It has large balls soldered onto it over more
delicate designs of silver braids and spirals. This one fits me as
well, and feels great. It feel powerful. The bracelet is 1
1/8 inches tall and flares out beautifully. The inside measures 1
3/4 by 2 1/4 inches with an opening of . This piece came
from Timor. A similar piece exists on page 297 of "a World of
Bracelets" except that the balls of silver are flattened on the one
in the book. $350.US.
CH453. This spiraling silver bracelet bought in northeast Laos
is a beautiful thing, but small with an inside diameter of 2 1/4 inches
across. Made for a very slender wrist so please measure a bangle
of yours to make sure that this can slip over your hand. The
base of the piece is beautifully rounded and patterned with deep repetitive
designs - it narrows at its ends so that it winds together to be held shut.
After the binding at the end the wire narrows to one that is patterned
and wound over and over again for a graceful flourish. This is all
one piece of metal - thickest in the underlying piece and thinnest in the
wire spiraling around it. That is quite an amazing job to create
it. To see a similar piece, turn to page 250 of "a World
of Bracelets". $245.US.
CH455. This comb came from Timor and is made of silver and
wood. The more decorative ones were worn by wealthy Suvanese, but
simpler ones like this were used by the Atoni who got much of their silverwork
from Savu and Ndao. (from Power and Gold) The comb is
known as a kilinoni and they are often worn in pairs, one at the
front of the head and another at the crown. This is 6 1/2 inches
across at the widest, and 2 3/4 inches tall. The back of the comb
is the widest - almost 1/2 inch thick but the piece thins down along the
straight line of the bottom. Charming. - $175.US.
CH458. For me, this armband from West Timor fits below the
elbow on the wider part of my forearm. My arm there is 8 3/4 inches
around. The armband has a very exotic look sitting there, and a romantic
one too. The piece is formed by hammering a sheet of silver so that
it has a lovely curve to its shape. The hammer marks give a great
texture to the piece and since it probably wasn't annealed as often as
it should have been, some cracks formed in the silver as it was being made.
The cracks don't affect the wearability at all, and they add to the texture.
For a decorative touch, some silver spirals were soldered on the the front
of the piece, with the added balls of silver. The design reminds
me of ancient Greek and Roman jewellery making. - $135.US.
CH459. here is another hammered armband from West Timor.
They shape them beautifully with a curve that helps to hold the piece in
place on forearm or upper arm. This one measures 3 inches across.
The silver balls on it are extended beautifully - $125.US.
CH385. Hmong silver earrings similar to these are illustrated
on page 222 of "a World of Earrings". It says that this shape is
worn by the Wa. These were bought in Luang Prabang in Laos.
They are old and attractive and measure 2 1/4 inches from top to bottom.
If you have a good sized earhole you can wear these otherwise they look
very pretty just sitting on display. $120.US.
CH386. These are the same style of earrings that you will see
on page 180 of "a World of Earrings". They are made by the Meo people
living in the Golden Triangle area of Thailand, and bought in Laos.
The earrings that she shows wee acquired from the Miao people of Hainan
who wear only earrings and bracelets. They must have been traded
into that area. These earrings are nicely decorated and engraved
on their hammered oval fronts. The loops have been twisted to create
an interesting design as well, and then finished with spirals. The
ovals are 1 1/2 inches wide and the earrings are 3 1/4 inches long from
the top of the loops to the bottom of the ovals. $120.US.
CH391. This complex and interesting silver pendant was bought
in northwest Laos. My dealer believes that it is from the Akha people,
but I find it rather unusual and am not so sure where the origins are.
It is just waiting for a strand of beads, a ribbon, or a cord to suspend
it with. If you look at the back you will see that a serious attachment
piece has been soldered onto it. At one end are two loops visible
from the front, and at the other end is a loop that cannot be seen except
from the back. It is built like a buckle and quite heavy (73 grams).
It is a good sized piece at 4 1/2 inches across and of course, dramatic.
$165.US.
CH392. I have two silver pendants here. #1, bought in
Laos, is a flower shaped Akha pendant slightly over 2 3/4 inches across.
It has two stringing holes at opposite ends. Nicely hammered, with
a hammered dome in the center. $45.US. #2 is 2 3/4 inches
across, etched with a star, and decorated with a soldered on dome (like
in the brass disc below, it is charmingly off-center). This was bought
in Atoni, Timor and is very traditional. It looks like a sign of
strength in a place where life includes many difficulties. There
is one stringing hole at the point of a star. (31.3 grams)
$105.US.
(#2 is available)
CH393. This Hmong spirit lock was bought in Laos at Luang
Prabang. It is quite heavy at 61.5 grams and nicely shaped, quite
different than the ones that I have from Thailand. I love that flare.
It is strongly patterned and hammered with dots around the edges.
The spirit lock is 3 1/4 inches tall, and will help to hold your own spirit
close to the ground in a safe space... $145.US.
(sold)
CH400. This silver dragon bracelet was bought in Zam Nua, Laos.
This is beautifully sculpted and quite a solid thing. It is not cast
but fabricated from hammered silver, swirls of wire, and balls of silver
soldered onto it. Very sculptural which is good, as it is difficult
- with its small opening - to actually wear. The inside is 2 3/8
by 1 7/8 inches and the opening is 5/8 inch across. The jaws of the
dragon are 1/3 inch wide. The Yao and the Hmong wear these pieces,
simplified and stylized from the more delicate ones originally made in
China. They are currently also worn in Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.
The tradition is over 150 years old, and bracelets like this are rarely
made today. They are generally heirlooms passed down from mother
to daughter. $325.US.
CH403. These are lovely little earrings that will work nicely if
you have slightly larger than average earholes. They are from Belu,
West Timor. The graceful silver earrings measure about 1 3/8 inches
tall from top to bottom and have a nice floral design facing downwards.
$55.US/pair.
CH415. There are two sets of brass armband here, bought in
Southern China. They are quite rough pieces without a lot of grace,
and they were worn pushed up on the arms by people who couldn't afford
anything fancier. One set seems to end with leaves, and the other
with snakes. #1 (the leaves and twists) measure 3 1/2 by 3 1/4 inches
on the inside. #2 (the snakes and twists) measure 3 by almost 3 inches
on the inside. These are quite heavy as they are very very solid.
$35/pair for each... (pair #2 is available)
CH421. This is a very nice antique small oval wooden carved
container from China with stringing holes running up each side. The carved
images show plants and birds, a little different on each side. This would
be great for someone who sells beads at shows, as they could keep their
emergency supplies inside. The container can easily be hung
by running cords through the stringing holes, and they can be tied together
underneath and decorated with beads or pendants. Then it can be worn
traditionally by attaching it to a belt, or wearing it as a pendant.
The box is a little over 2 1/4 inches tall, and 1 7/8 inches across at
the longest end of the oval. The wood is dark, and exotic looking.
$75.US.
CH424. Here are two Pa-Ou necklaces from Rangoon Burma.
#1 has 7 pendants of a good size - the central one is a little over 1 inch
across. The beaded part of the necklace is 6 inches long, and it
can be pulled over the head. The pieces look very organic, and have
a good weight to them. $170.US.
#2 is a delicate piece - old trade beads of blue and amber colours and
three silver coin type discs measuring 5/8 to 3/4 inches across.
It needs restringing as it doesn't have a clasp to open and close it. The
section with beads and pendants measures 5 1/2 inches across.
$95.US. (#2 is available)
CH426. These earrings are all illustrated on page 286 of "A
World of Earrings". In the book it says "Indonesia, Moluccas, Tanimbar,
Lembata and Alor" as places where they are worn. It also says "The
elongated earrings, known as 'crocodiles' are from Lembata." The
pieces are made by casting from the silver melted down from old trade coins.
They would work beautifully as pendants. Earrings #1, bought
in east Flores, are slightly gilded so have a delicate pale gold colouring.
They are 2 1/2 inches long and quite fancily decorated. $135.US.
Earrings #2, also bought in east Flores are silver. Their decorations
consist of tiny little raised dots that are quite delicate. The earrings
are 2 3/4 inches long. $135.US. Earrings
#3 are fat and thick and were bought in Tanimbar. They are slightly
over 1 1/8 inches long and are formed in a very sculptural and typical
shape. $65.US. Earrings #4 are the same style as
#3 and just a little heavier. They are about 1 1/5 inches long.
$65.US. (#3 & #4 are available)
CH427. Pairs of "buttons" from the Hmong people - bought in an Akha
village near Zien Kok in Laos. $55.US/each pair. (#3 is available - all others are sold)
CH428. Single "buttons" from the Hmong people - bought in an Akha
village near Zien Kok in Laos. $25.US/each button. (#2, #3 & #4 are available - all others are sold)
CH429. Moon shaped pendant bought in NW Laos - $75.US. (sold)
Round West Timor Atoni pendant - $95.US. (#2 is available)
CH433. Here are some great boxwood carved animals from Japan.
They are darker wood than the photo shows - it was almost impossible to
get a good image of these creatures... They are a good size - the
dog is the tallest at 2 1/8 inch, the snake is 1 1/2 inches, and the monkeys
are 1 5/8 inches. Most of these creatures have one or two holes in
the bottom for stringing so that they would hand upside down. They
are great for display, sitting among your beads as they can function as
Netsuke. The carving techniques are in antique style, but they are
not old themselves - they represent the spirits of people during the course
of the year. They do have signatures on their bottoms though.
The creatures are $14.US/each, two for $25.US, or three for $32.US. (#4, #5, #6 & #7 are available)
CH436. Here are three antique pendants featuring engraved silver
gourds (the silver of #1 is not quite sterling grade). They would
make great central pendants on necklaces though they were often used as
hangings on waist pieces or collections of items on chains.
There are many similar ones illustrated on page 85 of "Four Centuries of
Silver". The author says:
"The fruit known as the 'bottle gourd' lent itself to many utilitarian and symbolic functions in Qing dynasty China. Dried and hollowed out, the fruit served as a container in most households, and in south China, the boat people tied hollow gourds to their children to keep them from drowning, should they fall overboard. Owing to its swelling contours, which the Chinese felt suggested a pregnant woman, as well as its many seeds, the bottle gourd came to symbolize fertility. An association with wealth arose from the Chinese character for gourd, hulu, which form a homonym for "good fortune". In ancient times, old men used hollow gourds as water containers, and so the gourd also came to signify longevity."
(bottom of the
pieces all have this pattern). The shortest gourd (including
stem) is 1 3/4 inches long. The longest gourd (incuding stem) is
2 inches long. The pieces hang 4 to 4 1/4 inches long, including
carnelian beads and chain... $55.US/each pendant.
(#1 is available)
