{"title":"Asian Arts","description":"\u003cp\u003eArt and artifacts originating from the continent of Asia.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"jackel-belt-toggle","title":"Jackal Belt Toggle","description":"\u003cp\u003eChinese belt toggle in the shape of a jackal or other canine. Carved from wood, with pearl eyes. Jackals are seen as cunning creatures in Buddhist folk lore, similar to the European red fox.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZhuizi are tragically rarely represented in photos, paintings, or even stories from China. Scholars believe this is because these items were so common place that they were unremarkable. But they are very remarkable to us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eH. 1 \u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\" id=\"docs-internal-guid-23eb619a-7fff-1aa5-cb88-7391da8269fb\"\u003e½\u003c\/span\u003e\"; L. 2 \u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\" id=\"docs-internal-guid-8c7f35d5-7fff-3cd4-8fec-f7cfef2b85a9\"\u003e¼\u003c\/span\u003e\"; W. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\" id=\"docs-internal-guid-65bb0247-7fff-59fe-496e-1068052b416c\"\u003e⅝\u003c\/span\u003e\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"one-half-column-left\"\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003ec. 1800s\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"one-half-column-right\"\u003e\n\u003ch5 align='\"right”'\u003e#9006\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr style=\"clear: both;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e","brand":"1800-1850","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43299139289177,"sku":"PT 362","price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0605\/3665\/files\/AWE_Chinese_toggle_jacklev4.jpg?v=1779226645"},{"product_id":"buddah-belt-toggle","title":"Budai or Laughing Buddha Belt Toggle","description":"\u003cp\u003eOften mistake for the Buddha in western cultures, this belt toddle depicts Budai, a Chinese monk who lived around the 10th century. Carved from wood, this little Budai is holding a vase in one hand and a wealth ball in the other. He also has a companion who is holding a fan. There is a floral design carved into the back of this toggle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother reason toggles went out of fashion, may have been the rise of power tools. Though we may think that industrialization would have spurred a rise in their creation, instead it may have lead to a loss in the pride of craftsmanship and an impatience from the apprentices learning from the toggle making masters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eH. 2 ⅜\" ; L. 1 ¾\"; W. 1 ½\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"one-half-column-left\"\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003ec. 1800s\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"one-half-column-right\"\u003e\n\u003ch5 align='\"right”'\u003e# 9007\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr style=\"clear: both;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e","brand":"1000-1500 AD","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43299154853977,"sku":"PT 23","price":265.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0605\/3665\/files\/AWE_Chinese_toggle_Buddahv6.jpg?v=1779228101"},{"product_id":"double-monkey-belt-toggle","title":"Double Monkey Belt Toggle","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis toggle is different from the others we have today. While most are carved from wood, other materials like jade and amber were popular as they were light weight but beautiful. This double monkey toggle is an example of a toggle made from horn. With a silver cap and eyes, this toggle is fascinating in own way, and lovely whimsical.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMonkeys feature heavily in figurative toggles. Various Chinese religions use monkeys and apes as metaphors for people. In Chinese folk religion, some shape-shifting monkeys were said to be human ancestors. In Daoism, monkeys, particularly gibbons, were believed have longevity like a \u003cem\u003exian\u003c\/em\u003e (immortal beings). In Chinese Buddhism, on the one hand, monkeys symbolized restless and foolish humans, and on the other hand, Gautama Buddha was supposedly a benevolent monkey king in an earlier incarnation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eH. 1 ⅞\" ; L. 1 ¼\": W. 1 ¼\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"one-half-column-left\"\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003ec. 1800s\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"one-half-column-right\"\u003e\n\u003ch5 align='\"right”'\u003e# 9008\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr style=\"clear: both;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e","brand":"1800-1850","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43299168649305,"sku":"PT 17","price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0605\/3665\/files\/AWE_Chinese_toggle_horn_monkeysv3.jpg?v=1779228329"},{"product_id":"double-monkey-belt-toggle-copy","title":"Lucky Bat Belt Toggle","description":"\u003cp\u003eCarved from a beautiful piece of burl wood, this toggle is in the shape of a bat. This bat is accompanied by beautiful renderings of foliage and large fruits or a gourd and has a wonderful fluidity to the shape of this toggle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBats are a symbol of happiness in Chinese culture. This comes from the fact that the Chinese words for both \"bat\" and \"happiness\" are homophones, a concept explored frequently in Chinese toggles. The fruit this bat is depicted with looks most like a gourd, which another of these homophone words. Gourds share their pronunciation with the words \"fortune\" and \"prosperity\". This belt toggle was probably a very lucky charm for the original owner and may have been given as a gift.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eH. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\" id=\"docs-internal-guid-1c4a96d1-7fff-8ffd-19ae-d13b3b17ab05\"\u003e⅝\u003c\/span\u003e\" ; L. 2 ⅝\": W. 2\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"one-half-column-left\"\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003ec. 1800s\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"one-half-column-right\"\u003e\n\u003ch5 align='\"right”'\u003e# 9009\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr style=\"clear: both;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e","brand":"1800-1850","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43330466578521,"sku":"PT 18","price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0605\/3665\/files\/AWE_Chinese_toggle_bat_PT18v7.jpg?v=1779229232"},{"product_id":"lucky-bat-belt-toggle-copy","title":"Dog Companion Belt Toggle","description":"\u003cp\u003eChinese mythology is filled with fantastical creatures, diets, and of course, the humble dog. Dogs are often seen as a hero's companion in many stories, leading the heroes through their journeys or playing important roles. In fact, in many South Asian cultures, dogs play a significant role in the development of agriculture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis pup was carved from a lovely honey colored wood, and is depicted with a mischievous smile and a fluffy tail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eH. \u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\" id=\"docs-internal-guid-1c4a96d1-7fff-8ffd-19ae-d13b3b17ab05\"\u003e1 ⅝\"\u003c\/span\u003e ; L. 1 ¼\": W. 1 ¼\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"one-half-column-left\"\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003ec. 1800s\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"one-half-column-right\"\u003e\n\u003ch5 align='\"right”'\u003e# 9010\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr style=\"clear: both;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e","brand":"1800-1850","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43330500952153,"sku":"PT 71","price":175.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0605\/3665\/files\/AWE_Chinese_toggle_dog_PT71v6.jpg?v=1779231483"},{"product_id":"dog-companion-belt-toggle-copy","title":"Jade Toggle Of Daoist Longevity Deity","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn example of the non-wooden toggles, this figure was carved from a beautiful light piece of jade. His features are a little hard to see now, but with effort we can make out his bald head, wisdom wrinkles, and long beard. He also seems to be holding a walking stick.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis softness of features can be attributed to a few things, including the age of the piece. But toggles were also known to be fidgeted with constantly, and their smoothness is often a sign of being touched.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eH. 2 ¼\"; L. 1 \u003cspan id=\"docs-internal-guid-b5dbe3ed-7fff-b1b5-002c-52efb52db239\" style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e⅛\u003c\/span\u003e\"; W. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan id=\"docs-internal-guid-b6f89ea5-7fff-bf43-4a15-e27164a8de07\" style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e½\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"one-half-column-left\"\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003ec. 1800s\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"one-half-column-right\"\u003e\n\u003ch5 align='\"right”'\u003e# 9011\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr style=\"clear: both;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e","brand":"1800-1850","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43330502066265,"sku":"PT 447","price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0605\/3665\/files\/AWE_Chinese_toggle_jade_elder_PT447v5_92ff10b5-7207-42db-b15e-f6b5310cb223.jpg?v=1779233011"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0605\/3665\/collections\/AWE_Chinese_toggle_Lion_PT80_v6.jpg?v=1778789256","url":"https:\/\/arthurwerickson.com\/collections\/pre-columbian-arts-copy.oembed","provider":"Arthur W. Erickson","version":"1.0","type":"link"}