Antique Carved Kitchen God and His Wife, China (16840BME)

Description

While most families have had prints or paper-cuts of the Kitchen God (Zao Shen) with or without his wife above their stove, carved images were owned by wealthier families. The Kitchen God is syncretic as a Taoist, Popular Religion and Buddhist tutelary deity, protector of the home  who was responsible for making sure there was always food for the family, but he also observed and noted the behavior and morality of the people in household on the hu tablets they held. On Chinese New Year Zao Shen ascends to the heavens (his wife stays home) to report to the Jade Emperor where a favorable report brings blessings, good fortune and continued life, and a poor one brings misfortune or possible death to family members. This remarkable pair created for an affluent household are mirror-images on backless chairs with multi-sided pedestals wearing simplified officials robes and hats. Each of these figures clasp hands at their chests covered in ritual cloth.  Unlike most small images they hold an actual hu-tablet rather than having an indentation to symbolize holding one, which reflects reverence and solemnity for deities who hold the future of multiple generations in their hands. This pair is in excellent condition with their red pigment, representing fu, and lacquer remaining. The male figure’s cavity is covered with its original cover (bung), while the female figure’s bung is missing, exposing the paper consecration script placed there by a monk during an eye-opening-ceremony. Antique carved ones have become extremely rare and are highly collectible.

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