• Sometimes called "Synthetic Ivory" or "Mandarin Ivory", it does not come from elephants, and therefore is perfectly legal to own and sell. It also does not harm any animals or endangered species.

• Ox bone is the most used substance, ground into a fine powder and mixed in with synthetic resins specially formulated to give the look, feel and weight of real ivory.

• The basic shapes of the finished products are then cast, hand carved to the final design, and then hand painted so each piece is a hand carved unique product.

• Not only does this process protect all endangered animals from harm, but results in a beautiful work of art at very affordable prices.

We carry both antique originals and authentic museum quality reproductions of fine period pieces from the Qing Dynasty through present age in our store. If the item is an authentic period piece from the Qing Dynasty we will have papers to back that up and will price the item accordingly. Common sense will tell you that if you find an antique snuff bottle on our site, or anywhere else, for less than than several hundred to a thousand or more US Dollars, it is probably a reproduction and not an original. We will not mislead you to believe you are paying US$ 30.00 for a US$2,000 item. We want you to trust in our word that what you are told is really what you are getting. If you have any questions about any of our products please ask us before making your purchase.

Our products are all hand crafted and finished by Chinese and Asian artists. Some will engrave their name right into the item they made. Each item is unique, no two will be exactly alike. Therefore you will not find another item exactly like yours in somebody else's collection. When you receive your item it will be slightly different than the item in the photograph in the catalog. This is due to individual styles from one artist to the next, or differences in pigments used from one day to the next in the shop that made the item. Unlike buying souvenirs at a famous theme park, the emphasis in quality control with our artists is in the final artistry of the item, and not in carbon copy duplicity.

Quan Yin: The Goddess of Compassion and Mercy

Adapted from an essay by Bethleen Cole
Quan Yin is one of the most universally beloved of deities in the Buddhist tradition. Also known as Kuan Yin, Quan'Am (Vietnam), Kannon (Japan), and Kanin (Bali), She is the embodiment of compassionate loving kindness. As the Bodhisattva of Compassion, She hears the cries of all beings. Quan Yin enjoys a strong resonance with the Christian Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and the Tibetan goddess Tara.

In many images She is depicted carrying the pearls of illumination. Often Quan Yin is shown pouring a stream of healing water, the "Water of Life," from a small vase. With this water devotees and all living things are blessed with physical and spiritual peace. She holds a sheaf of ripe rice or a bowl of rice seed as a metaphor for fertility and sustenance. The dragon, an ancient symbol for high spirituality, wisdom, strength, and divine powers of transformation, is a common motif found in combination with the Goddess of Mercy.

Sometimes Kuan Yin is represented as a many armed figure, with each hand either containing a different cosmic symbol or expressing a specific ritual position, or mudra. This characterizes the Goddess as the source and sustenance of all things. Her cupped hands often form the Yoni Mudra, symbolizing the womb as the door for entry to this world through the universal female principle.

Quan Yin, as a true Enlightened One, or Bodhisattva, vowed to remain in the earthly realms and not enter the heavenly worlds until all other living things have completed their own enlightenment and thus become liberated from the pain-filled cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

Hong Tze Collection (Red Stone)

Made of fine sturdy resin-cement mixture and glazed with a protective layer.

• Chinese Dragon: Imaginary animal which can fly without wings and swin in the water. Symbolizes powerful man standing on justice.

• Laughing Buddha:(also known as Maitreya) is always associated with wealth and prosperity. A very popular symbol of abundance.  He is symbol of HAPPINESS, GOOD TIDINGS, AFFLUENCE and of course, ENDLESS WEALTH.

• Feng Shui (geomantic omen)--Place this happy and joyful Buddha in the southeast corner of your house to welcome extra wealth luck.

• Kei Loons:Traditional Chinese Guardians! These magnificently standing Kei Loons are designed to be guardians of home. Legend has it that they were originally guardians of the gates of heaven. Possessing the head of a dragon and the body of a horse, the carp like scales on its body holds a mythical tale. Traditionalists refer to this creature as the Chinese Unicorn. Having emerged from the river, it carried on its back the great symbol of Taoism.

• Feng Shui (geomantic omen)--Place in front of the main door facing outwards. It is believed by many to be the ultimate form of protection. It is said to act as a deterrent against anyone intending you harm. Wandering evil spirits are also said to be frightened away by the powerful figures of the Kei Loons.

• Chinese Money Frog:A clever frog sitting on a pile of gold(YUAN BAO-ancient Chinese currency made of gold) with a brass coin(TONG QIAN-currency in China back 1000 years ago), symbolizes fortune and good luck with your hard work and clever mind.

• Crane:Large eastern bird with long legs, long neck and red beak. Symbolizes Logevity and Peace.

• Turtle:Peaceful long-life animal symbolizes PEACE & LONGEVITY.

Feng Shui

Animals
1. horses: invitation of fame and recognition into life
2. fu dogs: to protect homes and family from evil influence
3. elephants: symbol of wisdom and strength. Used for strengthening career
4. dragons: symbols of great success and prosperity
5. turtles: symbols of long life, endurance and success in business
6. 3-legged frog/toad: bring good luck and wealth
7. pigs: symbols of fertility, i.e. to have children, also bring luxury and financial security to children and mother
8. zodiac animals: that correlate to your year of birth will give a stronger sense of self and more power; to put the zodiac animals of yours and your lover's will improve relationship.

Cloisonné

Cloisonné is a famous traditional enamelware with a history of over 500 years. Cloisonné is one of the famous arts and crafts of Beijing. The making of cloisonné requires rather elaborate and complicated processes: base-hammering, copper-strip inlay, soldering, enamel-filling, enamel-firing, polishing and gilding.

Base-hammering of body is the first step in the making of cloisonné. The material used for making the body is copper, because copper is easily hammered and stretched. This step requires a sound judgment in the shaping and uniformity of thickness and weight. It is in fact, the work of the coppersmith. The only difference is that when an article is shaped, the coppersmith's work is finished, whereas the cloisonné craftsman's work has just begun.

The second step is filigree soldering. This step requires great care and high creativity. The artisan adheres copper strips onto the body. These strips are 1/16 inch in diameter and of lengths as the artisan desires. The strips of filigree thus adhered, make up a complicated but complete pattern. The artisan has a blueprint in mind making full use of his experience, imagination and aesthetic view in setting the copper strips on the body.

The third step is to apply color which is known as enamel filling. The color or enamel, is like glaze on ceramics. It is called falang. Its basic elements are boric acid, saltpeter and alkaline. Owing to the difference in the minerals added, the color differs accordingly. Usually one with much iron will turn gray, with uranium, yellow, with chromium, green, with zinc, white, with bronze, blue, with gold or iodine, red. The colors are ground into minute powder and applied in the cells separated by filigree.

The fourth step is enamel firing. This is done by putting the article, with its enamel filling, into a kiln. After a short moment, the copper body will turn red. But after firing, the enamel in the little compartments will sink down a bit. That will require a re-filling. This process will go on repeatedly until the little cells are filled.

The fifth step is polishing. The first polish is with emery. Its aim is to make the filigree and the filled compartments even. The whole piece is again put to fire and polished once more with a whet-stone. Finally, a piece of hard carbon is used to polish again so as to obtain some luster on the surface of the article.

The sixth step is gilding. This is done by placing the article in fluid of gol or silver, charged with electric current. The exposed parts of the filigree and the metal fringes of the article will again undergo another electroplating and a slight polish.

Ivory Exquis Petit

The artworks are made of mammoth tusk, a very rare and precious material, buried deep within the Siberian permafrost for more than 10,000 years. Now extinct for thousands of years, the mammoth has a rich historical and antique value. The quality of mammoth tusk is as good as elephant ivory for carving, aesthetic characteristics and coloring. While saving lives of modern living giants, we are able to make use of our ancient natural treasures long buried and magnificently preserved under layers of tundra permafrost.

Today, we are able to transform these unique items of nature into beautifully-carved art pieces.

Mammoth tusk is specially treated for three years and passes through 15 stages of preparation before it's ready for carving. Ten different carving methods are utilized and the artists use up to 80 different instruments in their work, most of which they make themselves. According to centuries-old traditions, most of the work is done by hand, thus making each item a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. The artists often integrate mammoth tusk with valuable woods, gold, silver, bronze and stone. Several artists even make customized bas-reliefs of famous people or individual clients. Their unique skill and fine craftsmanship produce a striking similarity between the bas-relief and the original, and their impressive imagination breathes life into the ancient material.