Ancestor Worship

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ancestor worship as the “veneration of deceased ancestors who are considered still a part of the family and whose spirits are believed to have the power to intervene in the affairs of the living.” Based on love and respect for the deceased, it is the belief that showing respect and loyalty to the deceased is a reciprocal agreement: the living engage in ceremonial rites and make offerings that provide the deceased happiness and well-being in the afterlife in exchange for the departed protecting and looking after the welfare of the family. Although not required, having some type of physical memorial is often an important ancestor worship component that can be displayed in variety of forms: altars, shrines, plaques or tablets, sculptures, masks, gravestones, tombs, monuments, buildings and other designated places. While ancestor worship is often associated with the Confucian concept of filial piety, it is practiced in much of the world, in many religious traditions and among most socioeconomic groups. In China the concept of ancestor worship as a demonstration of piety originally espoused by Confucius is an essential belief and everyday practice among all major Chinese religious – Buddhism, Taoism and other folk religions. The Chinese family unit traditionally consisted of the deceased as well as the living and worshiping one’s ancestors has been a means of strengthening the family and Chinese society. As the “residence of ancestral spirits”, the family altar/shrine 祠堂, with ancestor carvings and tablets is the commemorative site for daily prayers, rituals and offerings. In contemporary settings ancestor worship can be viewed as a connection with our past, and perhaps reaping the benefits our forefathers provided us.

Showing 1–12 of 30 results

  • Ancient Han Dynasty Glazed Hu Jar, China (1604AOK) $495

    $495.00
    H: 6.75” Dia: 6″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    This two thousand year old heavy wine vessel called a Hu is covered in a dark-green lead glaze used often during the Han dynasty for burial items called mingqia variety of which were placed in tombs to provide comfort to the deceased in their afterlife. With a characteristic elegant hu shape, it rests on a wide foot and rises to a minimally decorated globular body with low relief horizontal bars, a wide tapering neck and is topped by a wide flaring bowl-like mouth. Its underside, like most, was left unglazed.

  • Ancient Han Dynasty Pottery Pig, China (2029BKE) $395

    $395.00
    H: 2.5”  W: 4.5”  D: 2.375” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This glazed pig mingqi was one of many items made for a tomb to placate the spirit of the deceased and assure the soul’s access to the things enjoyed when alive. This animal mingqi confirms the importance of pigs as a food source and of raising livestock in Han China. An alert animal whose stocky body is typical, it’s dark lead green glaze and damp tomb created a chemical reaction over centuries making it a lustrous, iridescent green impossible to copy that is highly valued in China and by collectors. In very good condition, it has expected glaze losses, minor abrasions and cracks due to its age and long tomb burial.

  • Antique Agricultural Deity and Spring Ox, China (16337LKE) $885

    $885.00
    H: 14.25”  W: 7.125”  D: 4.875” | CALL 213-568-3030 FOR SHIPPING

    To pay homage and respect to one’s ancestors, Chinese rural families commissioned images to honor and protect family members, and in some instances, their domestic and farm animals as seen in this exceptional, fine and rare carving.  Intricately carved from one piece of wood, it depicts a Taoist official holding a hu tablet on top above  the “Spring Ox” accompanied by the “Herd Box”, who together perform an ancient agricultural rituals at the end of each winter to wake the earth up so that spring can arrive.

     

  • Antique Ancestor Figure in Official’s Attire, China (16752) $2285

    $2,285.00
    H: 34″  W: 11.25″  D: 7.25″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    Although this wonderfully carved antique figure portrays an ancestor depicted as an official, his atypically benevolent and finely modeled face makes him a very endearing figure. Old and weathering from age in its rear, this piece was repainted probably in the 20th century, as was always periodically done with old figures with losses, here especially due to the seasonal South China climate. With his individualized convincing features, he is a very relatable rather than authoritarian figure, possibly resulting from the affection of the family that commissioned it.

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  • Antique Ancestor Official in Ornate Robe with Raised Lacquer Designs (5686BREM)

    $4,950.00
    H: 23.5″  W: 15.625″  D: 10″ |  CALL US AT 213-568-3030 for SHIPPING and Price INFORMATION

    This exceptional Qing carving portrays a seated official ancestor wearing  traditional official’s clothing, a red and black official’s hat and black boots. His inset glass eyes and high cheekbones frame a large curved nose, a strong projecting chin and forehead wrinkles indicating a man of importance with the wisdom of age who demands respect. The top two robe layers have wide borders with marvelous raised lacquer decorations that include beautiful cloud forms, flying phoenixes with spread wings and floral sprays.

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  • Antique Ancestor with Removable Head, China (5623LKE) $785

    $785.00
    H: 10.25”  W: 5.125”  D: 4” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This very finely carved figure of an ancestor was commissioned by a family of either high status or wealth, having been carved from a single piece of an exquisite and rare hardwood with a lustrous patina. The removable head, which is fairly unique, is individualized with a round face, bald head, and oversized ears and markings to delineate his advanced age, a respected characteristic in 19th-century Chinese society. There is no indication of his status, however, as his robes are simple and he wears no hat indicating that he is not an official. He sat on a detached chair which is now missing and we are in the process of having one made for it . The exquisite carving in beautiful dense wood and patina make this a wonderful and distinctive piece in excellent condition with cracks and minor surface losses consistent with age and use.

  • Antique Carved Standing Ancestor Official, China (18017ESK) $425

    $425.00
    Ht: 8.25″  W: 3″  D: 2.125″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    Dressed in a red robe with a high neck collar, extremely wide sleeves extending below the knees and a belt around his waist, this ancestor figure portrayed as a civilian official standing on a rectangular base with hands together wearing a long civil official’s robe that extends to his shoes but has no rank badge indicated.

  • Antique Carved Wood Taoist Priest, China (16157ERK) $350

    $350.00
    H: 9.25”  W: 4.5”  D: 3.25” | FREE SHIPPING

    This well carved image probably is a Taoist official that was placed on a home altar along with other religious and ancestral carvings to summon good wishes and energy and ward off malevolent forces. His high status and importance as a Taoist official are affirmed by his static pose, solemn face, official’s robes and refined hat and the red and gilt pigmentation covering the front and back.

  • Antique Mandarin Ancestor Figure, China (16479BLK) $395

    $395.00
    H: 11”  W: 5”  D: 3.375” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This ancestor figure is portrayed as a Mandarin civilian official indicating either his actual high rank or his family’s desire to depict him as one seated in a traditional official’s pose and dressed official Mandarin attire and high status boots. The three-character inscription on the pedestal seems to be a name 范 懋卿(Fan Mao Qing) that probably indicates his identity and/or the family who commissioned the image.

     

     

     

  • Antique Mandarin Ancestor In Horseshoe Chair, China (19054BOK) $850

    $850.00
    H: 12.75”  W: 6.625”  D: 5.75” | FREE SHIPPING

    This masterfully carved ancestor as a mandarin official sits on horseshoe chair set on a footed high decorated plinth dressed in a well-appointed formal 3-button Mandarin long coat and pointed rattan hat. His face is uniquely and unusually individualized with heavy lidded eyes, in a benevolent expression and his advanced aged indicated by the wrinkles clearly depicting a loved individual. This exquisitely carved image in excellent condition with a fine patina was true homage to a revered family member and is one of our finest ancestor figures.

     

  • Antique Mandarin Ancestor on Horseshoe Chair, China (18061BEM) $455

    $455.00
    Ht: 8.5″  W: 4″  D: 3.375″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    This small fine quality piece depicts a modest ancestor figure as a Mandarin official seated in a horseshoe chair on a raised pedestal emphasizing his importance wearing the traditional mandarin 5-button long coat with a round collar, a plain officials hat, and an undergarment extending to the top of his black shoes. He has a somewhat personalized oval-shaped tranquil face, a high forehead with curved painted brows, a hint of a smile on his pursed lips, and a triangular pigtail down his back.

     

  • Antique Mandarin Official Ancestor Figure, China (16433JSK) $595

    $595.00
    H: 11.5”  W: 5”  D: 4” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This well-carved  and remarkable ancestor figure is a lower-level Mandarin Civilian official seated on an armless yoke-back chair mounted on a plain rectangular base. He wears a traditional Mandarin jacket, an ankle-length skirt and a black velvet cap for winter or rattan woven hat in summer. His left hand is on his knee while the clenched right rests on the other one in an iconic Mandarin official pose. He is extremely well-carved with facial details showing his advanced age and he exudes an air of authority and status. In contrast to idealized ancestors, he is more individualized reflecting aspects of the actual person portrayed.

     

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