Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Southeast Asian (4)

A tropical hardwood walking stick. Probably handiwork from the Philippines. Carved floral decoration and the name Paul V. McNutt who was an American politician and historical figure. He was the 34th governor of Indiana during the Great Depression, High Commissioner of the Philippines Territory, Administrator of the Federal Security Agency, Chairman of the War Manpower Commission, Ambassador to the newly independent Philippines, Chairman of the Philippine-American Trade Council, directory of several firms in Manila, and aspired to run for President of the United States. He was in the Philippines from 1937 to 1939 and again from 1945 to 1947. Owing in part to his exposure to Japan during the war years in the Philippines, he held very controversial views toward the Japan and the Japanese people (fortunately Roosevelt's announcement seeking a second term kept McNutt, the front runner until then, out of the White House as he would have been far more aggressive than was Truman in ending the war.) Missing caps on both ends otherwise the carved wood in good condition. Length, 30 7/8 inches (78.43 cm)

Burmese red lacquer covered box of tall, cylindrical form. Decoration also in yellow, green and black lacquer. Good condition with minor wear including light loss on the foot rim and some minor checking of the lacquer surface inside the box and cover. Height about 4 inches (10.16 cm). Diameter about 2 7/8 inches (7.31 cm)

Burmese red lacquer covered box. Fitted bowl insert. Decoration also in orange, yellow, green and black lacquer. Good condition with minor wear and some minor checking of the lacquer surface inside the box and cover. Diameter about 7 inches (17.78 cm). Height about 4 3/8 inches (11.11 cm)

A mid to early 20th century Vietnamese chess set. Vietnam was known for accomplished mother of pearl inlay work as found in the accomplished inlay work on this black lacquer board folding to form a case. Every other square is mother of pearl with fine inlaid decoration of the same material and with incised details. The complete set of 32 French Regence style pieces of turned and carved light and dark colored horn. The French influence follows from that country's half century of occupation of the region from the "Open Door Policy" era through the mid 20th century - becoming an integral part of Vietnamese culture even until today with adopted vocabularly, culture and cuisine. Comparison with more recent exports from Vietnam will bear out the differences in quality from this era - particularly in the inlay work. Good condition with only minor wear from use and one minute point of loss to the black lacquer (easily filled with a black enamel such as nail polish.) The board, opened, is about 15 inches square. The Kings are about 2 3/4 inches high. The board cleaned up a bit after we photographed it. As we often do in auction format, we are starting this well below our fair market retail asking price and without reserve.