Chinese official's hat, first (lowest) rank
Period: 19th century
Condition: exceptional
Materials:
The hat is made of black silk, black velvet and red cotton. It has a tassel made of thin red cotton threads. The finial is made of brass and bronze and still has traces of it's gold plating. All stitching still intact, fabric over 99% intact.
Description:
Very nicely made official's hat in with a first rank finial. The finial is slightly smaller than usual on these hats and goes well with the overall understated grace of this hat, a feature somewhat unusual for the late Qing. This hat would be worn by an official that had passed his first Imperial Exam, an exam for which only an average of one percent succeeded. Passing the exam brought great honor to the whole family of the succesful candidate.
€ 370,-
Chinese fifth rank official's sedan carrier hat
Period: 19th century
Condition: average
Materials:
The hat is made of purple silk, black velvet and red cotton. It has a tassel made of red cotton threads. The finial is made of brass and blue glass. Purple silk is worn on several places, black velvet and cotton are still in excellent condition.
Description:
This hat probably belonged to the sedan carrier of a well off Chinese fifth rank official. A very rare find, most of the hats encountered today are of the type worn by officials themselves.
€ 178,-
Tibetan belt with pierced ironwork plates
Period: 19th century
Condition: composite piece, parts in good shape
Materials:
Leather belt, pierced and chiseled iron plates and brass suspension rings that do not originally belong to this piece.
Description:
Tibetans, Mongols and Manchus all wore typical belts with two suspension points on which they hung their knifes, pouches, and other items. This example is Tibetan, with it's four plates of characteristic pierced and chiseled ironwork. One plate is lost (normally these belts would have five such plates) and the buckle has been repaired or replaced. The two square brass suspension "rings" do not appear to originally belong to the belt. However, all parts are old and could be matched some time ago.
€ 163,-
Chinese stirrups
Period: 19th century
Condition: average / repaired
Materials:
Iron inlaid with silver
Description:
A pair of Chinese stirrups decorated with silver inlays of bats and shou longevity symbols. Bats commonly stand for luck in Chinese culture as their pronunciation sounds the same as the word luck in Chinese. Two types of stirrups were common in ancient China, light and heavy ones. There are of somewhat rarer the lighter type, generally attributed to women. One of the two stirrups has been recently repaired.
€ 63,-
Tibetan horse bit
Period: 19th century
Condition: good
Materials:
Iron damascened with silver. Damascening is a very time consuming technique that is not commonly used anymore.
Description:
A forged horse bit with typical Tibetan silver damascened decoration on both rings. The decorations show floral motiffs. A nice item for a very good price.
€ 33,-
Tibetan horse bit
Period: 19th century
Condition: good
Materials:
Forged from iron
Description:
A forged horse bit made with twisted iron bars.
€ 23,-
Tibetan matching set of stirrups and horse bit
Period: 19th century
Condition: stirrups good / bit broken
Materials:
Iron damascened with silver. Damascening is a very time consuming technique that is not commonly used anymore.
Description:
Set of stirrups with a very nice Tibetan swastika pattern on both pillars and span accompanied by a horse bit with identical and nicely executed silver damascened decoration. The swastika is a common symbol on Tibetan objects where it is commonly regarded to represent protection and good fortune. The bit is broken in the middle.
€ 168,-
Chinese musketeer's gunpowder flask
Period: 19th century
Condition: excellent
Materials:
Ox horn, wood, copper, brass, iron.
Description:
A typical gunpowder flask as used throughout China, in very good condition. It consists of a hollow piece of horn that is sealed on one end by a piece of wood that is glued in place with resin. It could be hung suspended from a belt or bandolier using the copper bar at the top. The stop is made of carved wood, brass and iron. The opening still smells like gunpowder.
Unlike popular belief on warrior monks, kung fu heroes, tigers and dragons, firearms saw widespread use in Imperial China and musketeers made up large parts of Chinese armies since the 18th century onward. They were often accompanied by spearmen, archers, and swordsmen with sabers and rattan shields.
€ 38,-