Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art (183)

Antique Onggi Grain Jar from Chuncheong Province with charming finger-paintings of stylized orchids (nancho) and dragon (yong kurim) and hand-pinched 'dragon lines' (yong tti) and rings (son tti). The potter creates his free-hand and whimsical 'paintings' by running his finger (or thumb) through the still-wet glaze. The orchids are a symbol of modesty and purity, and the dragon is an ancient guardian, protecting the grain in the jar that will provide important nutrition to the family as a staple of the Korean diet. 16w x 17h inches, 40.5w x 43h cm. Onggi are the most 'Korean' of Korean pots. All words related to onggi are of pure Korean origin, not based on Chinese characters. They are a beautiful form of Korean folk art.

One-Of-A-Kind 18th Century Korean Staff Sword, Changpogeom, a style of sword unique to Korea, with seven gold inlay dots on each side representing the Seven Star Spirit (Chilseong), an ancient Daoist deity that controls fortune. Antique Changpogeom are rare. It's a staff with a fighting blade inside. And a Chilseong Changpogeom (Seven Star Staff Sword) is so rare that this may be the only surviving example. It is a large weapon, 43 inches (110cm) with a a 32 inch (81cm) blade, and the blade is a very high quality fighting blade. This is truly a museum quality sword.

Korean Sword with Insignia on the Blade. 26 inches (66cm) overall. Cracks in the scabbard but in otherwise good condition.

Black Lacquered Mother of Pearl Table. This is a low table used in ancestor worship rituals. The gorgeous peony flower is a symbol of abundance and wealth. The delightfully rendered dokkaebi goblins that adorn each leg are guardians that chase away evil spirits. The clouds are symbols of Heaven, and the plum blossoms are symbols of courage. As you can see in the photo, there is some loss to one of the dokkaebi goblins, but this table is in otherwise amazing and excellent condition. 25w x 13d x 11.75h inches, 63.5w x 33d x 30h cm.

Antique Onggi Water Jar (Mul Tongi) from Gangwon Province with lovely finger-painted designs. The potter creates the whimsical designs by running his finger (or thumb) through the still-wet glaze. 14.5w x 14.5h inches, 37w x 37h cm (the width includes the handles). Onggi are the most 'Korean' of Korean pots. All words related to onggi are of pure Korean origin, not based on Chinese characters. They are a beautiful form of Korean folk art.

17th Century Bhaisajyaguru Thangka. Antique Tibetan Thangka of the Medicine Buddha seated upon a lotus throne, holding the medicine bowl, and surrounded by Heavenly clouds and four Bodhisattva. Most of these thangka were photographed through glass frames, so there may be a little blurriness. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum. Mineral pigments on silk. 16 x 12 inches, 40 x 30 cm.

Early 20th Century Large Black-Lacquered Mother-of-Pearl Box, in fair condition with much loss of the mother-of-pearl. The brass hardware is old but is not original. 31.5 x 18.5 x 16.5 inches, 80 x 47 x 42 cm.

Very Rare Goryeo Dynasty Gan Chal Calligraphy by the famous scholar Jeong Yi Oh aka Gyo Eun, born 1347. Frame: 19 x 19 inches, 48.25 x 48.25 cm; Calligraphy: 12 x 12 inches, 30.5 x 30.5 cm.

18th Century Mongolian Thangka of a Guardian Deity General on a White Horse. 27 x 19.25 inches, 68.5 x 49 cm.

17th Century Tibetan Avalokitesvara Thangka, 29.5 x 21 inches, 75 x 53.5 cm. Most of these thangka were photographed through glass frames, so there may be a little blurriness. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum.

Rare Old Korean Map with Beautiful Topographic Detail of Korea's many mountain ranges. The list of kings at the bottom ends with Sukjong, whose reign ended in 1720. It also has a list of distances from various places to the capital, and mileage charts of distances between various locations. Map: 42 x 24 inches, 106.5 x 61 cm; Frame: 59 x 30.25 inches, 150 x 77 cm.

Nepalese Rai Tribe Mask with Pigment. 10.75 inches, 27.5 cm.

West Nepalese Mask with Yak Hair, 13 inches, 33 cm.

17th Century Tibetan Green Tara Thangka, 49.5 x 29.5 inches, 126 x 75 cm. Most of these thangka were photographed through glass frames, so there may be a little blurriness. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum.

18th Century Tibetan Rudra Chakrin, King of Shambhala Thangka, 43.5 x 25.5 inches, 91.5 x 66 cm. Most of these thangka were photographed through glass frames, so there may be a little blurriness. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum.

17th Century Tibetan Arhat Thangka, 36 x 26 inches, 91.5 x 66 cm. Most of these thangka were photographed through glass frames, so there may be a little blurriness. This thankga was in an exhibition at the University of Texas Art Museum.

Rare 17th Century Tibetan Chakrasamvara Thangka with numerous inscriptions on the back. There is a tape repair on the center of the back. 26 x 19.5 inches, 66 x 50 cm.

19th Century Sharkskin Head Band Case with Lacquered Dragon and Many Fine Details. A string would have been looped through either the lacquered dragon or the brass ring on the lid. Only a high-ranking person would have had a case that was made of sharkskin. This one is completely covered in sharkskin. The beautifully rendered brass hardware has grape motifs etched into them, a symbol of abundance, because of its many seeds. The chrysanthemum on the lid is also a symbol of plenty, because of its many petals. The other brass work on the lid is the two ancient Daoist trigrams, 'Thunder' and 'Fire'. Altogether a marvelous and rare work of artistry in excellent condition. 6.25 x 3.5 inches, 16 x 9 cm.