Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian (174)

Red Lacquered Safe with Beautiful Metalwork with auspicious symbols: a tortoise lock (symbol of longevity),peach drawer pulls (a symbol of longevity), the diamond-shaped Seven Treasures symbol, floral scrolls throughout, and the wan (the wheel of life and symbol of universal peace and harmony) is a symbol so ancient it actually predates Buddhism and originally represented the revolving sun. In Buddhism it represents the Heart of the Buddha, happiness, and resignation of spirit. 14.5d x 10w x 11h inches, 37d x 15.5w x 28h cm.

Exquisite Painted Bronze Qing Dynasty Chinese Guan Yin Bodhisattva of Compassion. Height: 4.75 inches (12 cm). From an important and published collection. Provenance available upon request.

Rare and Sublime Nias Island Torque Necklace in a Classic Form made of graduated slices of Coconut Shell. Purchased by a renowned and published collector at Bonham's on May 15, 2008 (Lot 507, page 14 of the catalogue). More provenance information available upon request. 9.25 inches (23.5 cm)

Rare, Museum Quality 19th Century Medicine Chest (Yakjang) with Paulownia Doors. This is the finest work of Korean antique furniture we have ever offered, and likely the only example of this type anywhere outside of Korea. Antique medicine chests with doors are extremely rare even in Korea, and this is probably the best known condition among the very few left. Each drawer has the name of the medicine inscribed on it. Perfectly proportioned at 100 x 75 x 33 cm, 39.5 x 29.5 x 13 inches.

Rare Pair of Boxes for Storing a Scholar's Name Seals, with Lovely Wood Grain and Metalwork. A scholar's name seals were among his most personal and treasured items. 6h x 5w x 5d inches, 15h x 12.5w x 12.5d cm.

Fine 19th Century Korean Royal Court Painting of Children at Play. This genre of Korean paintings always displays children playing in imaginary Chinese court costumes, and is called Baekdongja-do in Korean. From the ground-breaking Auspicious Spirits, Korean Folk Paintings exhibition catalogue: "Depicting the children as court nobility expressed an auspicious desire that one's own children achieve success in life." This exceptional example was displayed in the room of a wife in the Korean royal court to inspire her to become pregnant and to have healthy, playful, and successful children. It was also displayed on the first birthday of each child. Ink and colors on silk. 40 x 14.5 inches, 101.5 x 37 cm.

Antique Korean Coin Chest, Donkwe. 11h x 24w x 12.5d, 28h x 61w x 32d m. Coin chests are highly prized by collectors of Korean antiques. Paper money did not exist in Joseon Dynasty Korea, and the coins were of very small denominations. They had to be strung together in large, heavy quantities to have any worth, so a strong money box was a necessity. Mattie Ingold, an American missionary physician who worked in Jeonju, wrote: "If Korean money were proportionately as great in value as it is in weight and clumsiness, the Koreans would be a very wealthy people."

Antique Stone and Metal Chinese Seal Chop from the published and renowned collection of Sam Hilu, a prominent author and adviser on traditional Asian art. 5 inches, 12.5 cm.

Ming Dynasty Chinese Wood Sculpture of Emperor and Empress. Purchased from Askenasi in Paris in 1978 by Irwin Hersey, renowned author on Asian and primitive art, and publisher of the Primitive Art Newsletter in the 1970s. Irwin Hersey was an advisor to museums and prominent collectors, and vetted pieces for many of the international tribal art fairs and Asian art fairs. 8.5 x 5 x 2 inches, 21.5 x 12.5 x 5 cm.

Ming Dynasty Chinese Wood Sculpture of a General on Horseback, with original pigments. 11 x 5 x 3.25 inches, 28 x 13 x 8 cm. Purchased from Askenasi in Paris in 1978 by Irwin Hersey, renowned author on Asian and primitive art, and publisher of the Primitive Art Newsletter in the 1970s. Irwin Hersey was an advisor to museums and prominent collectors, and vetted pieces for many of the international tribal art fairs and Asian art fairs.

Antique Timor Message Drum from the published and renowned collection of Sam Hilu, a prominent author and adviser on traditional Asian art. 20.5 x 5.5 x 5.5 inches, 52 x 14 x 14 cm.

Antique Nepali Sarangi Musical String Instrument with sublimely rendered tiger and human figures, from the published and renowned collection of Sam Hilu, a prominent author and adviser on traditional Asian art, 27 x 7.5 inches, 68.5 x 19 cm.

Antique Nepali Sarangi Musical String Instrument with sublimely rendered animal and human figures, from the published and renowned collection of Sam Hilu, a prominent author and adviser on traditional Asian art, 29.75 x 7.75 inches, 75.5 x 20 cm.

Antique Nepali Sarangi Musical String Instrument with script and sublimely rendered human and animal figures and representations of modes of transportation, from the published and renowned collection of Sam Hilu, a prominent author and adviser on traditional Asian art, 27 x 8.75 inches, 68.5 x 22 cm.

19th Century Korean Hat Box made entirely of Exotic Paulownia (Odong-namu) Wood, from the collection of a French diplomat stationed in Korea in the 1950s. Paulownia is very desirable for collectors because of its beautiful wide grain, light weight, and fire and bug-resistant qualities. The paulownia used for this rare hat box is especially fine. 9.5 x 9.5 x 8.5 (height) inches, 24 x 24 x 21.5 cm.

Exceedingly Scarce Set of Three Iron Age Korean Pots with Exquisite Color and Beautiful Form. 4th to 1st Century BC. You are unlikely to ever see another Iron Age Korean pot offered for sale, much less a set of three. The remaining examples are all in museums or tightly held private collections. These prehistoric pieces are finely potted and made from soft and sandy red clay. They are aesthetically striking in both color and form and are historically significant. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the scholar/collector/aesthete. Right Pot Dimensions: 16.25 inches (41cm) circumference, 3.25 inches (8.5cm) height. Middle Pot Dimensions: 18.25 inches (46.5cm) circumference, 4 inches (10cm) height. Left Pot Dimensions: 12.5 inches (32cm) circumference, 2.75 inches (7cm) height.

Large Prehistoric Bronze Age Korean Arrowhead of a scarce type and size illustrated in the catalogue: The 29th United Association of the University Museums of Korea Exhibition - Korea's Bow and Arrow. There are also similar examples of early Korean arrowheads in the December 1934 Transactions of the Korea Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 1500 - 300 BCE. 6 inches (15 cm).

Lovely 13th Century Korean Celadon Chrysanthemum and Bullocho Bowl. The chrysanthemum is a Korean symbol of plenty, as represented by its many petals. The mythical bullocho plant is an ancient symbol of longevity. 4.5 inches (11.5cm) wide by 1.5 inches (4cm) high.