Antique Pair of Attendants with Offerings, China (16242BLK) SPECIAL PRICE

Description

Buddhist and Taoist deities were often placed on a home altar accompanied by a pair of attendants, one  on each side, looking downward with modesty or inward with respect. Taoist attendants often carried unique offerings such as medicinal gourds/potions or pillboxes for medicine gods or baskets or sacks of gold and silver blocks for wealth gods, or other precious gifts. This unique pair of attendants stand on circular pedestals, smiling slightly with down cast eyes presenting boxed offerings. They wear voluminous robes with flaring sleeves, upward curving bottoms and officials’ hats and boots probably to emphasize their status..One carries a box covered with cloth with ribbons on top and the other a thin tall rectangular box with a cover. Ribbons wrapped around objects impart importance to the power of the object they surround since they are perceived as rays or auras emanating from the object symbolizing miraculous powers and a wish for longevity. They   were painted with red and gilt the colors of fu, or auspicious blessings which remains on their faces, and covered with a thick lacquer that naturally darkened over time and smoke from incense and candle offerings. It is very rare to find pairs of attendants in excellent condition and their appearance is enhanced by their frosted Acrylic bases.