Ancestral

Ancestral means “pertaining to ancestors; descending or claimed from ancestors”. In cultural terms it refers to objects and traditions relating to honoring and worshiping ancestors and their spirits through ceremonies or rituals, revering ancestor images, presenting offerings to please the deceased and attract their favor and protection and placing items in their burial site to please the departed and provide comfort in their afterlife. In China ancestor carvings or ancestral tablets – also known as spirit or memorial tablets – representing the spirit of the deceased or the seat of a deity were placed on home shrines or altars along with Buddhist, Taoist or Popular Religion images.

Showing 1–12 of 19 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.

  • Ancient Harpocrates Figurine, Roman Empire, Alexandria (1844BHK) $395

    $395.00
    Ht: 6.5”  W: 2.625”  D: 1.75” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This figure is Harpocrates the Greek god of silence, confidentiality and secrets holding a jar and was made using a bivalve-mould. The iconography hints at a royal and temple cult, as he wears a double crown symbolizing both Upper and Lower Egypt. A royal emblem showing an association with the contemporary king, in Egypt royals with crowns were a manifestation of the Egyptian god Horus. Small white specks are all that remains of the slip and colorful paints covering it. Missing part of his right side when excavated, there are no repairs and it is mounted on a stand. Given its age, the image is in good condition with normal scrapes and cracks found in pieces of this age.

     

  • Ancient Pottery Woman with Child, Roman Empire, Alexandria (1845BHK) $395

    $395.00
    Ht: 6.75”  W: 3”  D: 2” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This Roman Egyptian figurine from Alexandria of a woman holding a young child is a Kourotrophos, a class of god and goddess figures holding infants or children. Referred to as child nurturers, these were revered deities, cult figures and mortals who were also fertility symbols and protectors of the young. Mother and child figures like this are universal and appear known in disparate cultures throughout the world.

     

  • 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 Lacquer and Gilt Straits Chinese (Peranakan) Shrine Cabinet, China (3986BKE) $595

    $595.00
    H: 16.375″  W: 13.625″  D: 5.75″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This intricately carved black and heavily gilt antique cabinet is a fine example of a Straits Chinese furniture made in Guangdong for the Southeast Asia market.  Carved openwork panels with phoenixes and lotuses are symbolic wishes for harmony, blessings, rank, good fortune; outstretched wings wish for harmonious marriage, many sons and the inside decoration a wish for status and successful career. Although flamboyant for todays taste, it is a unique accent piece and gift for newly weds.

     

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  • Antique Ming Attendant with Zodiac Animal, China (1155BCK) $395

    $395.00
    H: 7.375”  W: 2.75”  D: 2.5” | FREE SHIPPING!

    A group of 12 zodiac figures as mingqi sometimes accompanied the wealthy deceased in their tomb. This Ming dynasty earthenware figurine stands on a low circular base and wears an official’s hat and long flowing robes. It is difficult to identify the specific animal held here but it may be a rabbit, small dog or baby pig. The detailed figure is hollow and partially mould-made and unlike glazed mingqi, was covered with a white slip and painted using black and white pigments which are mostly extant.

  • Antique Ming Dynasty Earthenware Horseshoe Chair, China (3331BOK) $685

    $685.00
    H: 7.375″  W: 4.375″  D: 3.75″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    Often ancestral figures were portrayed sitting in horseshoe chairs to reflect the high status of the figure they were portraying. As many earthenware mingqi, this well-modeled chair has a liberally applied thick green glaze resulting in expected drips around the stretchers. The seat is decorated with a yellow glaze imitating caning and the decorative carved design on the splat also has a yellow glaze and a carved decorative “clocklike” circular design. The bottom of the seat and legs are not glazed, as is usual.  It is in very good condition with expected minor chips and minor glaze pitting and deterioration consistent with its age and long burial. It pairs perfectly with item 3330 and together would add to a fine collection of Chinese ceramics.

  • Antique Ming Earthenware Horseshoe Chair, China (3330BOK)

    $685.00
    H: 7.375″  W: 4.375″  D: 3.75″ | FREE SHIPPING

    This charming miniature Ming dynasty ceramic horseshoe pottery chair is an accurate model of an impressive Ming chair that would have been made of a beautifully grained hardwood and constructed with a continuous horseshoe shaped top rail and a caned seat. The curved splat of a wood chair might have either carved or pierced motifs or medallions and straight or curved stretchers joining the legs in pairs at the same height on each side. Often ancestral carved figures were portrayed sitting in horseshoe chairs to reflect the high status of the figure they were portraying. This ceramic mingqi has a thick green glaze throughout which was liberally applied normal usual drips around the stretchers. The seat is decorated with a yellow glaze in imitation of caning as is the decorative carved design on the splat, but the bottoms of both the seat and legs are unglazed. The rail ends splay to the right and left for hand comfort and decorative effect are traditionally found in Ming Dynasty hardwood horseshoe-shaped chairs. It is in very good condition with minor chips and paint losses and fading due to its being buried underground in a tomb for centuries. It would be a fine addition to a collection of antique ceramics.

  • Antique Official in Red Robes with a Hu Tablet, China (16851BOK)

    $875.00
    H: 15.5:  W: 6.125″  D: 4.125″ | free shipping!

    This fine ancestor figure portrayed as a Chinese official with many indications of his high status. He sits on a backless chair upon a high decorative pedestal upon which his feet rest and . He wears officials attire: a futou cap and high collared red robe with double belt extending to his shoes. He sits in a formal pose with hands on his thighs holding a long slender  hu tablet. His facial hairs indicate a mustache and beard, now partially lost, on his gilt colored face.

     

  • Antique Rare Set of Ming Ceramic Attendants, China (3224ABC-BKEM) $4985

    $4,985.00
    H: 17.875″  W: 4.875″  D: 4.75″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This brilliant set of three Ming dynasty attendants – one male and two female – are in a unique category of refinement and elegance that reflects the importance and high status of the tomb, the deceased and the family that commissioned them. Standing on hexagonal bases with arms folded below their chests and presenting offerings to the deceased, their clothing and parts of the bases have a rare cobalt blue glaze for burial objcts, two have yellow glazed areas and all have painted unglazed areas. Their removable heads are highly detailed and beautifully modeled fitting inside high collars.  These figures are presented and sold as a remarkable set reflecting their original presentation and condition.

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  • Antique Sawankhalok Glazed Stoneware Lidded Bowl, Thailand (1001BLC) $295

    $295.00
    H: 4.25”  W: 4.325”  D: 2.25” | FREE SHIPPING

    This gazed stoneware lidded bowl rests on a solid well-cut foot and has a close-fitting cover. The lid’s center has a lotus bud handle with a surrounding linear medallion on the top. Alternating panels have underglaze brown crosshatching and vegetal scrolls beginning on the lid, continuing below to the body and each pane separated by a series of vertical and circular lines.

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