Korean pair of carved wood tortoise stands, Choson Dynasty, 17th-18th century. Each carved from a single block of wood and retaining its original polychromed surface. Each measures 7 inches long by 6 inches high and 5 inches wide. Now set with candle-pricks for use as candle holders. Tortoises have long been associated with nobility and longevity in Korean and other Asian cultures.MAIN

Victorian cast iron cane and umbrella stand c1870. Measures 26 inches to the top of its handle, 16 inches wide at base, 14 inches wide at top, and 22 inches to the top of the rack holder. Original condition.

19th century Hunza clay pottery bowl with yellow slip. Measures 9 inches across by 3.25 inches high. Very good condition with just a few rim chips which is to be expected. The Hunza people, or Hunzakuts, descend from the principality of Hunza. The Burusho or Hunzakuts (Hunza people), are an ethnic group indigenous to the Hunza Valley, Karakorum Mountains, Northern Pakistan. The Burusho claim to be descendants of the soldiers who came to the region with Alexander the Great's army in the 4th century BC. They live alongside the Wakhi and the Shina. The Wakhi reside in the upper part of Hunza locally called Gojal. Wakhis also inhabit the bordering regions of China, Tajikstan and Afghanistan and also live in Gizar and Chitral district of Pakistan. The Shina-speaking people live in the southern part of Hunza. They have come from Chilas, Gilgit, and other Shina language -speaking areas of Pakistan. The Hunzas are Shia Ismaili Muslims. DNA research groups the male ancestry of the Hunza with speakers of Pamir languages (Afghans) and the Sinti Romani (Gypsies), due primarily to the M124 marker (defining Y-DNA haplogroup R2a), which is present at high frequency in all three populations. However, they have also an East Asian genetic contribution, suggesting that at least some of their ancestry originates north of the Himalayas.

Set of 11 pewter Christmas ornaments from Chester, Connecticut. The Chester Merchants Association began selling Christmas ornaments in 1992 as a fund raiser. Each year, a local artist, artisan, or group was asked to design an ornament. The 1993 ornament was designed by the world-renowned minimalist and conceptual artist and Chester resident, Sol Lewitt, who died in 2007. Leif Nilsson, another well-regarded local artist, designed the 1994 ornament. The 11 ornaments span 1992-2002. Each is 2.25" in diameter except that of the Chester Hose Company which is 2.25" by 2 and seven eighths inches.

Pair of W. K. Cowan Co., Chicago, solid mahogany pillar bookends, circa 1900. This is a very well made and heavy pair of bookends, capable of holding a row of books securely. Each bookend measures 7.5 inches wide at the base, 3.5 inches deep at the base and 5.5 inches high. The W. K. Cowan Company was in business from 1894 until 1916. William Kennett Cowan (b 10/24/1869); Graduated Chicago Manual Training School 1889; Trained in architecture with Henry Ives Cobb (Chicago Varnish Co. Building, the Columbian Exposition, Newberry Library, Liberty Tower in Manhattan, and the King Edward Hotel in Toronto, and other notable places); Cowan designed and supervised all of the plumbing plumbing and "related fixtures" for the Columbian Exposition in 1893 Chicago.