Antique Kitchen God and His Wife, China (16850H-BME)
$785.00
H: 7.75″ W: 3.25″ D: 2.375″
Finely detailed and carved from dense wood, this Kitchen God and his Wife are near mirror images of each other. Both sit on backless chairs on a high plinth, with layered gold officials’ robes with decorative sashes and hands clasped symbolically as if holding a hu tablet. Their different well-carved faces have arched brows, pendulous ears and hair under detailed, different and distinctive head wear. They are in excellent condition with most of the original pigmentation and gilt.
Description
While most families have had prints or papercuts of the Kitchen God (Zao Shen) with or without his wife above their stove, carved images with a lacquer coating were owned by wealthier families. The Kitchen God is syncretic as a Taoist, Popular Religion and Buddhist tutelary deity, beloved among house-gods as protector of the home. He observes the family’s behavior and morality and on Chinese New Year ascends to the heavens 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. Each antique-Chinese-wood-carving of this pair has an indentation to symbolize holding a hu-tablet. Kitchen Gods radiate warmth, especially when placed near the stove. This folk-art pair makes unique house warming or wedding gifts and add positive chi to any household. They were covered in red, the color of fu, and lacquer and have cavities closed with a bung indicating they were consecrated. Kitchen Gods radiate warmth, especially when placed near the stove and are unique house warming or wedding gifts and add positive chi to any home. This pair is part of the VA Deities-and-Legends Collection.
Click here for the Blog Consecrating Wooden Images to Imbue Them with A Life Force
Additional information
| Weight | 5 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 12 × 9 × 6 in |
| Place of Origin | China |
| Period | Antique, Qing Dynasty |
| Date | 19th Century |
| Materials and Technique | Wood, polychrome, lacquer |
| Dimensions (inches) | Ht: 7.75” W: 3.25” D: 2.375” |
| Dimensions (metric) | Ht: 19.685cm W : 8.255cm D: 6.0325cm |
| Weight | 1 lb 6oz |
| Condition | Excellent, fine patina demonstrating age and use |
| Reference Number | 16850H-BME |
| Shipping Box Size | |
| Height | 6” to 11.9” |
| Width | 6” to 11.9” |
