Antique Attendant with Offering, China (16424A-BLE) SPECIAL PRICE

Description

This well carved figure is an attendant placed on home altar to accompany a Taoist figure. Standing on a tall pedestal with a slight smile and downcast eyes, he present a rounded box secured with a ribbon. He wears officials attire which emphasizes his status: an official’s hat and boots, open waistcoat and a lower garment secured at the waist with slightly flaring panels with incised carved decorations. Taoist deities were often accompanied on home altars by attendants flanking them and looking downward or at an indirect angle in respect. They frequently carried offerings and other unique items such as medicine gourds or pillboxes for Gods of Medicine or baskets or sacks of coins or gold and silver taels (blocks) for Wealth Gods. The offering he carries is tied with ribbons which imparts importance to the object as they are viewed as auras emanating from the object and symbolize miraculous powers. When a ribbon is attached to an offering or seal it means “ longevity for generations”. This attendant may have accompanied a significant deity as it was covered in gilt. It is in very good condition with remains of lacquer and gilt which naturally darkened from age and incense smoke. The sealed rear cavity with items placed there during an eye-opening ceremony indicates it was consecrated.

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