Antique Official in Red Robes with a Hu Tablet, China #16851BOK

Description

Ancestor figures portrayed as Chinese officials were placed on a home altar with other house gods and religious images to bring fu to the household. During the Qing dynasty, designation as an Official was so significant families sought to emphasize this achievement in family ancestral figures. As traditional,  this carve official has a serious expression, sits on a backless chair on a high decorative pedestal resting feet in black shoes and wears officials-attire, a high collared red robe extending to the top of his shoes, hands on his thighs the right holding a long slender curved hu-tablet and a double belt above and below his ample stomach – all signs of his office and status. As headwear indicated a civil official’s high rank he wears a  somber black cloth futuo (meaning ‘black gauze cap’) worn by Ming officials and depicted in Qing images when it became more fitted and structured. The holes on his face with short hairs indicate his moustache and beard, now partially lost. His face is gilt and red signifying fu  and the Five Blessings or Happinesses and reinforce his high status. Ancestor worship was a cornerstone of Confucianism, ancestor figures were the highest form of filial piety.  Most that survived, like this, have expected worn surfaces, cracks, paint and lacquer losses, and old  wood pest damage. Although the left wing on base is missing and the right one is reattached, it remains a great piece in very good condition with much of its painted and gilt surface remaining. The sealed bung over the back cavity indicates it was consecrated.

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