Antique Official Holding Belt of Office, China On Lucite (16470)

Description

This brightly painted idealized Mandarin high-ranking bureaucrat or scholar made for a home altar on a backless chair in traditional official’s pose and attire, feet firmly planted on a pedestal. He sits in standard formal, symmetrical frontal posture to emphasize dignity, control and readiness to serve. His serene, aged facial features, and painted remnants of a mustache and beard is a nonspecific generalized depiction. His expressionless composure reflects his high rank and detachment from worldly pursuits.

His left hand holds up his belt of office to show his high status and the right is over the knee obscured by his long flowing robe. He wears an official’s hat.  His extremely well-defined face is highlighted with painted eyebrows and pupils inside  deeply carved lidded eyes. His green robe extends to his boots, extremely costly items of status worn only by those who could afford them.

His elegant mandated “power robes” – full-length, straight-collar, fastening on the side – and official’s hat validated his role as a strong protector and benefactor. The green, red, and possibly blue-black elegant robes indicate he is a middle-rank official and are embellished on the collar with painted cloud forms and red and gilt borders on the sleeves and hem. One hand holds up his belt and the right rests over the knee in a balanced symmetrical composition. Belts were status symbols since ancient times, and holding one made the ancestor’s rank and status indisputable.

With no back cavity the numerous faded inscriptions on the chair’s back and side are too faded to read. They indicate it was consecrated. The top character is “office” or “prefecture” and the others probably identify the official’s and donor’s name, date and location of when and where it was  placed and a dedication from the family who commissioned

In very good condition, much of the original pigment and gilt remain with expected minor losses, cracks and chips normal for its age and use. It is mounted on a frosted acrylic stand. It is a colorful and masterful piece of history.