One black ink tablet in the form of a flattened square with a raised perimeter. Obverse presents trigram k'un (earth) in gold pigment bounded by a gold circle. Reverse presents stamped illustration of the Eighteen Luohan (personal disciples of the…
One grey rounded rectangular ink stone in a two-piece red-brown wooden case. Ink stone obverse presents flat oval working surface for grinding ink sticks. Incised botanical designs flow from obverse to reverse on one end of the stone. Reverse…
One black ink stick in the form of a flattened rectangular slab. Contained in a case lined with pink satin. Ink stick is broken into several pieces. Exterior faces embellished with continuous stamped design of plants and insects. One broad face…
One rectangular black lacquered silk-lined case containing two rectangular grey ink sticks broken into two pieces. Case lid presents four gold Chinese characters 仿古藏煙 (modelled after antique inks). Left and right upper obverses present sun and clouds…
Two approximately trapezoidal carved wood whistles in the form of squatting bears. Painted black with red highlights white linear hatching and zig-zag patterning. The head of each sculpture presents a small hole longitudinally piercing the body.
One rectangular dark grey relief-carved wooden tablet with long straight sides and trefoil ends. One side presents architectural forms juxtaposed with landscape features. The other side presents two stylised dragons and three Chinese characters 漱芳齋…
One elongated cylindrical red-brown wood sculpture. Exterior presents relief carving of robed figures in a garden landscape. Sculpture open at the top but plugged at the bottom. Wood exhibits several vertical splits.
One carved and gilded wood sculpture of a warrior figure standing on a red-painted shallow rounded rectangular base. Figure is dressed in armour with a sword scabbard on its left hip. On its right side it bears an elongated object in both arms.
One copper-red lacquered wood sculpture of a man standing on a green-coloured wooden base chipped at the front. Figure is dressed in long flowing robes. Left hand is missing.
One yellow-brown carved wood figurine of a warrior standing on a shallow red-painted base. Figure brandishes a short upright sword in its right hand and in its left hand holds close to its body a shield fashioned in the form of a human face.…
One carved wood figure posed standing on a shallow base. Figure is depicted wearing elaborate dress and is painted red green blue and gold. Right arm is missing.
One carved wood figure depicted standing with its right hand clutching the remains of a staff. Figure exhibits remnants of red yellow and green pigmentation. Left arm and most of the lower limbs are missing.
One relief carved wood sculpture in the form of a figure on horseback. Exhibits remnants of red yellow and green pigmentation. Horse's tail and arms of rider are missing.
One wood sculpture carved in the form of a horse and two seated felines. Sculpture painted black with red highlights and white linear zig-zag patterning. Small hole pierced through side of base.
One carved wood sculpture of an enthroned male figure. Depicted wearing a blue-painted hat and bearing a tasseled sceptre in his right hand. The figure's face and robes are painted in gold pigment. String is attached to the figure's head to emulate a…
Five small carved wood sceptres embellished with red green and gold pigment. Each sceptre comprises a teardrop-shaped head and figurative motif surmounting a short shaft and crown.
One approximately square-shaped dark brown relief carved wood pendant. Both sides present near identical garden landscape designs with cranes and blossoms. Vertical edges exhibit curvilinear ruyi fungal patterns that link into stylised bat motifs at…
One small yellow-brown approximately cylindrical wood pendant carved in the form of the head of a man wearing a cap. Pierced longitudinally with mauve cord threaded through.
One rectangular brown carved wood fasting tablet. Obverse and reverse present a relief-carved botanical border surrounding a central rectangle containing two inscribed Chinese characters: 齋戒 (zhai jie, “fasting”); and 潔靜 (jie jing, “clean and pure”).…
One serpentine red-brown wood daigou. Upper part of obverse presents carved head of a dragon. Obverse body presents serpentine relief carving of a dragon.
One red-brown wood daigou comprising two separate components. One component exhibits a hook in the shape of the head of a dragon; the other component exhibits a rectangular loop into which the dragon head hooks. Obverse of both components presents…
Green silk tubeteika (in Uzbek called a duppi or kalpoq) - a round, slightly pointed skull-cap from Uzbekistan, quilted and embroidered in cream, black and crimson with an edging of black velvet; lined with crimson cotton. Owned and habitually worn…
One tall rectilinear dark brown lacquered wooden ancestral tablet and base with traces of gilding. A carved dragon head surmounts the upper front face with relief carvings of full-length dragons defining a narrow rectangular border on the remainder…
Two childrens toys, painted soapstone, both painted in red, black and white. A: Seated monkey with clasped hands. B: Squatting monkey, with hands to mouth.
One cream and tan disc-shaped carved stone shard with a slightly hemispherical cross-section. Presents a small circular central piercing. Part of the rim has been broken off.
One white and light tan disc-shaped carved stone shard. Flat on one side and convex on the other. Presents a small circular central piercing. Nearly half of the rim has been broken off.
One yellow-brown carved stone squatting figure on a small base. Exhibits prominent eyes and ears and a dangling beard. Hole drilled into base between figure's legs.
One grey-green carved stone head and neck placed on a red-brown carved wood base that resembles the upper torso of a figure standing with its arms by its sides. The front of the base exhibits a carved strap that extends from upper left to lower…
One light tan carved stone head with a prominent hairpiece large ears and small facial features placed on a red-brown carved wood base that resembles the upper torso of a figure standing with its arms by its sides. The front of the base exhibits a…
One white carved stone head of Guanyin broken off at the neck from a larger sculpture. Lower left side of its face is marked with dark grey speckling. Figure wears an elaborate hairstyle bound into a knot above its brow. Facial features comprise…
One speckled grey-green carved stone sculpture comprising a head and neck broken off a larger figure. Face exhibits a small nose and mouth but has no eyes. Horizontal incision on brow creates the impression of a hairline. Top and rear of head…
One cream-yellow carved stone canine posed on a shallow flat base. Head and body exhibit dark grey patches. Figure is depicted with forelimbs extended and head and haunches raised.
One cream and light-tan carved stone head broken off a larger sculpture at the neck. Depicted adorned with an elaborate headdress. A hole in the back of the head suggests that there are missing attachments.
One long rectangular light tan carved stone sculpture with a square transverse cross section. Body exhibits incised linear features. One square end-face of sculpture presents circular piercing drilled along longitudinal axis.
One yellow brown and green stone carving in the form of a flattened bird's head. Appears to be a fragment of a larger sculpture broken off at the neck. Bird's head depicted with a prominent crest and hooked beak. Two circular holes pierce head and…
One yellow-brown and green carved stone pendant in the form of a fish with a flat oval-shaped body and tail. Incised details of gills and fins. One small hole pierced through the head.
One cream and brown carved stone pendant in the form of the horned head of a ram. Incised details of eyes ears and snout. Sculpture exhibits a small longitudinal piercing threaded through with orange cord.
One yellow-brown carved stone pendant in the form of the horned head of a ram. Incised details of eyes and snout. A small hole longitudinally pierces the sculpture from its mouth to the back of its head.
One yellow-brown carved stone pendant in the form of a square tablet. One side of the pendant presents two small holes piercing opposing corners and threaded through with orange cord.
One small dark brown stone ornament in the form of a human head. Lighter-brown vein. Hair of figure is arranged in the form of a peak and defined by incised parallel grooves. Longitudinal hole pierced up into head at the base of the neck.
One blue-green and creamy-brown stone carving in the form of a coiled eel with a long flattened body. Obverse and reverse incised with details of eye mouth and body segments. Approximately ovoid piercing through centre of stone.
One approximately triangular tablet-like tan-coloured carved stone mould. Each face presents four cavo-rilievo designs. On one side the juxtaposition of a leaf a lotus blossom and a figure riding a fish echoes traditional Chinese symbolism for good…
One cream and light tan carved model stone pedestal in the form of a drum. Squat cylinder bulging at the waist. Upper and lower rims ringed with a beaded pattern; mid-section presents a botanical design in low relief. A metal pipe is inserted into a…
One red-brown and cream cuboid soapstone seal. Predominantly cream-coloured upper end embellished with carved tortoise bearing a baby tortoise on its back. Bottom face carved with seal pattern.
Two rock crysal seals. Each with two dragons in relief on top (mirror pair). A with seal in relief at base, characters in copy of ancient script. B with modern characters in relief at base, in modern (comparatively) seal style. In case.
One red-brown wooden seal in the form of a flattened rectangular tablet. Upper third of seal face presents carved design of two stylised felines supporting a wheel beneath which are four Chinese characters. Lower two-thirds of seal define a square…
Personal seal of Rewi Alley carved in ivory depicting the traditional male lion with front paw on a sphere (in small case). Inscribed 艾黎 (Aili) in seal script.
One irregularly shaped, red, white, brown and green glazed earthenware sculpture of a figurine, from the Sung Dynasty (960-1279). Figure is standing with hands together holding something infront. Details have been painted on.
One irregularly shaped, green portrait bust of Rewi Alley, by Xiaohui Lu (Harry Lu). Made using a resin mould and cast technique from an original clay bust. Oil paint finish.
One rubbing of scribe at a table, with two attendants, one with fan, and inscription. The script at top is a eulogy for King Wen of Zhou Dynasty (1152-1056 BC). The rubbing is probably from Luoyang Longma Futu temple.
One rubbing of carriage drawn by a horse, containing a man. Man driving the horse, and another man walking behind, carrying bundles on a shoulder pole. The characters at the top in Han Dynasty clerical script, read "後元二年六月” (June of the second year…
One slender serpentine translucent yellow-gold quartz daigou. Darker yellow-gold vein. Upper part of obverse presents carved head of a dragon. Obverse body presents serpentine relief carving of a dragon.
Large tinted paper print, probably from stone slab, featuring tortoise and snake. Inscription at top: 鎮宅龜蛇 ('Tortoise and snake that protect the house').
One print of husband and wife and two children at a table,with candles and vases of flowers. Inscription at top reads: "大中華帝國洪憲元年灶君之神位”, meaning "The Tablet for the Kitchen God in the First Year (1916) of Hong Xian Emperor of the Empire of China”.…
One gold-hued metallic water pipe holder and accessories. Holder consists of a flattened cylinder with a flat base. Holder sides present inscribed decorations. Holder upper surface exhibits several openings into which are inserted water pipe…
One pipe fabricated from an elongated sheep bone. Bowl of pipe employs a red-brown brass cartridge surrounded by three large and three small brass studs.
One brown clam-shaped netsuke. Lighter brown markings. Emulates surface texture and patterning of an actual clam shell. One face presents two small pierces threaded through with light green string.
One circular album painting on silk mounted on square of paper depicting traveller on donkey in snow with attendant.
Inscription as follows:
端陽前一日寫應子元仁棣大人屬即正 漣波剛清 (Dedicated to Ziyuan, painted a day before the Dragon Boat Festival. Lianbo,…
One horizontal painting of a seascape with islands, which depicts the Taoist mountains and isles. The long colophon is an explanation of the painting, describing five yue (high mountains), three shan (mountains or hills), and ten zhou (islands). The…
One vividly painted rectangular canvas monastery scroll. Obverse exhibits botanical border in purple and magenta surrounding a central design rendered in red orange blue and green. Buddhist theme.
One mounted painting on paper of landscape. Signature and seal of artist bottom left. Dedication to Alley top right. Signatures and seals of six friends, top left. Inscriptions as follows:
Painted landscape on paper of mountains, water and hut. Inscription as follows:
乙酉冬日為/少南仁兄法家校正/鏗衡尹相設色/時年六十有九 (In the winter of Yiyou year [probably 1945], for your honour Shaonan. Yin Xiang painted in colour at the age of 69)
Seals:
top left: 鏗衡…
One painting on paper of flowering lotuses. The inscription and seal are as follows:
味青/李樹滋/寫於/白下/葆真/書屋/時丁酉/之冬 (Weiqing, [also called] Li Shuzi, painted in Baozhen Studio, Baixia [district of Nanjing), in the winter of Dingyou year [1957].)
Seal:…
One horizontal painting of figures and two mounted buffalo. Inscription as follows:
東圃三弟大人正 小齋張之溶畫(For Your Excellency, my brother, Dongpu. Painted by Zhang Zhirong)
One painting featuring the eleventh of The Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety (Ershisi xiao), according to Guo Jujing (fl. 1300). Here Cai Shun collects mulberries for his mother. He explains to the rebels that the basket of sweet berries is for…
One mounted painting of a buffalo tethered to a peg and a boy lying in a tree. Inscriptions as follows:
1. Top right: 霜葉紅於二月花 (frosted leaves are as red as the February flowers)
2. Middle and left: 艾黎先生方家雅教 可染敬贈 (Mr. Alley, the master, please…
One rectangular box containing three antique Chinese coins. Box covered in pale pink fabric embroidered with a pattern of circles and diamonds containing floral motifs in red green and yellow stitching. Inside lid of box presents placard providing…
One sword-shaped implement constructed from ~one hundred and seventeen circular square-holed Qing dynasty coins bound together with loops of red yellow and green string. The pommel comprises ~forty seven coins ringing a central spindle. The cross…
One rectangular paper banknote. Obverse presents stamps and seals in red and black pigment and Chinese-language inscriptions in blue and black pigment contained within a rectangular border featuring two dragons near the top and a wave pattern along…
Three rectangular paper banknotes. Obverse of each note presents two faded seals in red pigment and inscriptions in black pigment contained within a rectangular border design featuring intertwined dragon motifs and a central illustration of ten…
One blade-shaped bronze knife coin. Coin presents moulded ring at one end and an obtuse bend half-way down its length. Of the so-called 'Ming Knife' variety from ~400-220 BCE.
One round, copper coin with an irregularly shaped hole in its centre, used as a Tartar amulet. The coin has details in relief on both sides, which is possibly Iranian (Arabic) writing.
(1) One circular coin. Square central hole. The Obverse presents four Chinese characters 政和通寶 (zhenghe tongbao). From the Zhenghe era (1111-1118 AD) of the reign of Emperor Huizong (1100-1126 AD).(2) One circular coin. Square central hole. The…
(1) One circular coin. Obverse outer circumference presents six Chinese and two Manchu characters comprising (top) 江蘇省造 (minted in Zhejiang province); (bottom) 當十 (value ten); (sides) boo je (Hangzhou Zhejiang province mint). Obverse inner…
(1) One circular coin. Obverse outer circumference presents eight Chinese characters comprising (top) 中華民國 (Republic of China) and (bottom) 河南省造 (minted in Henan Province) surrounding a central wreath motif within which are two Chinese characters 十文…
(1) One circular coin. Obverse outer circumference presents five legible Chinese characters comprising (bottom) 當製錢十文 (value ten wen) and sides 戶部 (Ministry of Revenue). Obverse inner circumference presents four Chinese characters 大清銅幣 (Great Qing…
(1) One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents four Chinese characters 大中通寶 (dazhong tongbao) and one character on the reverse 十 (shi) denoting the value of ten. From the reign of Zhu Yuanzhang as the Prince of Wu (1361-1368 AD). (2)…
(1) One circular coin. Obverse outer circumference presents six Chinese characters and two Manchu characters comprising (top) 四川省造 (minted in Sichuan province); (sides) boo chuwan (Chengdu Sichuan province mint); (bottom) 當十 (value ten). Obverse…
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents four Chinese characters 弘治通寶 (hongzhi tongbao). From the Hongzhi era of the reign of Emperor Xiaozong (1487-1505 AD).
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents four worn Chinese characters 道光通寶 (daoguang tongbao). Reverse presents two worn Manchu characters boo yun (Yunnan province mint). From the Daoguang era (1821-1850 AD) of the reign of emperor…
One circular coin. Obverse presents two Chinese characters 壹分 (one fen) either side of ancient Chinese spade money motif. Reverse presents eight characters 中華民國二十五年 (the twenty-fifth year of the Republic of China or 1936) defining an arc over a…
One circular coin. Approximately square central hole. Obverse presents four Chinese characters 至道元寶 (zhidao yuanbao). From the Zhidao era (995-997 AD) of the reign of Emperor Taizong (976-997 AD).
One circular coin. Approximately square central hole. Obverse presents four Chinese characters 皇宋通寶 (huangsong tongbao). Spans the period between the fourth (Baoyuan) and seventh (Huangyou) eras (1038-1054 AD) of the reign of Emperor Renzong…
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents four Chinese characters 熙寧元寶 (xining yuanbao). From the Xining era (1068-1077 AD) of the reign of Emperor Shenzong (1068-1085 AD).
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents four Chinese characters 熙寧重寶 (xining zhongbao). From the Xining era (1068-1077 AD) of the reign of Emperor Shenzong (1068-1085 AD).
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents four Chinese characters 紹興元寶 (shaoxing yuanbao). From the Shaoxing era (1131-1162 AD) of the reign of Emperor Gaozong (1127-1162 AD).
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents four worn Chinese characters 正隆元寶 (zhenglong yuanbao). From the Zhenglong era (1156-1161 AD) of the reign of Emperor Wanyan Liang (1150-1161 AD).
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents four worn Chinese characters 洪武通寶 (hongwu tongbao). From the Hongwu era of the reign of Emperor Taizu (1368-1398 AD).
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents four Chinese characters 弘治通寶 (hongzhi tongbao). From the Hongzhi era of the reign of Emperor Xiaozong (1487-1505 AD).
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents four worn Chinese characters 乾隆通寶 (qianlong tongbao). Reverse presents two worn Manchu characters boo chiowan (Beijing Board of Revenue mint). From the Qianlong era (1736-1796 AD) of the reign…
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents four Chinese characters 開元通寶 (kaiyuan tongbao). Kai Yuan of indeterminate type from 621-907 AD.
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents four Chinese characters 太平通寶 (taiping tongbao). Spans the period between the first (Taipingxingguo) and third (Duangong) eras (976-989 AD) of the reign of Emperor Taizong (976-997 AD).
One circular Annamese coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents four Chinese characters 景盛通寶 (jingsheng tongbao). Reverse is blank. From the Cảnh Thịnh era of the reign of Emperor Nguyễn Quang Toản (1792-1802 AD).
One worn circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents four Chinese characters 乾隆通寶 (qianlong tongbao). Reverse presents two worn Manchu characters boo yun (Yunnan province mint).
One circular Annamese coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents four Chinese characters 安法元寶 (anfa yuanbao). Reverse is blank. From the Thuận Thiên era of the reign of Emperor Lê Lợi (1428-1433 AD).
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents four worn Chinese characters 咸豐通寶 (xianfeng tongbao). Reverse presents two Manchu characters worn beyond legibility. Coin worn through at one point on its obverse upper right internal…
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents two worn Chinese characters denoting coin denomination 半兩 (ban liang). Ban Liang of indeterminate type from ~378-119 BCE.
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents two Chinese characters denoting coin denomination 半兩 (ban liang). Ban Liang of rimless Western Han Dynasty type from ~175-119 BC.
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents four Chinese characters 嘉泰通寶 (jiatai tongbao). From the Jiatai era (1201-1204 AD) of the reign of Emperor Ningzong (1194-1224 AD).
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents four corroded Chinese characters 洪武通寶 (hongwu tongbao). Reverse presents two corroded Chinese characters 京十 (jing shi); jing 京 referring to the Nanjing mint and shi 十 denoting the value of ten.…
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents four Chinese characters 嘉泰通寶 (jiatai tongbao). From the Jiatai era (1201-1204 AD) of the reign of Emperor Ningzong (1194-1224 AD).
One circular coin. Obverse presents portrait of head of Sun Yat-Sen. Reverse outer circumference presents eleven Chinese characters comprising (top) 中華民國十八年 (the eighteenth year of the Republic of China or 1929) and (bottom) 廣東省造 (minted in Guangdong…
One circular coin. Obverse outer circumference presents indeterminate number of Chinese characters worn beyond legibility. Obverse inner circumference presents four Chinese characters 四川銅幣 (Sichuan bronze coin) surrounding a central floral motif.…
One circular coin. Obverse outer circumference presents six Chinese and two Manchu characters comprising (top) 湖北省造 (minted in Hubei province); (bottom) 當十 (value ten); (sides) boo at the left and an unidentified character at the right. Obverse inner…
One circular coin. Obverse outer circumference presents six Chinese characters comprising (top) 中華民國 (Republic of China) and (bottom) 當十 (value ten). Obverse inner circumference presents four Chinese characters 湖南銅元 (Hunan bronze coin). Reverse outer…
One circular coin. Obverse outer circumference presents nine Chinese characters and four Manchu characters comprising (top) unidentified Manchu characters bounded by 丙午(the year of bingwu, 1906); (bottom) 當製錢五文 (five cash); (sides) 戶部 (Ministry of…