Antique Shiwan Stoneware Fruit Offering, China (19330)

Description

Offerings of sweets, fruits, florals, tea and currency are traditionally placed on a home altar in Chinese homes and temples, often in front of ancestor figures or tablets as a form of ancestor worship in homage to their spirits. They were also placed before Buddhist and Taoist images in reverence and gratitude to the deities. These offerings are often accompanied by lighting of incense in a family ceremony. It is believed that the offerings provide the means to communicate with ancestors and beings in the other world to let them know what those who are making the offerings would like from them and to bring into the home fu and the Five Blessings or Happinesses. Fruits here are pears symbolizing longevity as the tree lives long time.  When the ceremony is completed, the food can be consumed and the power and energy it has received from the ceremony can then be enjoyed by those who made the offerings.  Very fine condition with minor losses and surfaces blemishes consistent with age and use.