Chinese art is flush with auspicious images as wishes for blessings (fu), wealth, longevity, fertility and sons, achievement of high status, harmony and many others. These symbols are readily understood by all and are used to decorate all types of folk and religious art such as sculpture, painting, ceramics, textiles and furniture. In addition to the Chinese Eight Treasures, other popular auspicious images include Scholarly Objects: a book, brush, lute, ink stone ink cake or scrolled paper; Wealth and Prosperity Symbols: coins, gold or silver bars, paper money, clouds, crabs, dear, scepter; Rank and Success: peacock feathers, wine cup, peony; Harmony and Peace: flowers, teapot, vase; Long Life: Longevity gods, plum blossoms, bats, butterflies, crane, pine, scepter for power and wealth ….and many more.
There are many Hindu auspicious symbols including the conch shell (shankha), an auspicious symbol signifying the five elements: water, fire, air, earth and space or void. When blown, the conch produces the sacred sound (om), which embodies divine energy and the primal sound from which all creation evolved.
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This small elm cabinet is from Fujian province known for its unique style of highly decorative vernacular furniture. Large and small items were constructed with mortise-and-tenon joinery that made pieces stable, lengthened their life, and allowed woods to adapt to Asia’s variability in humidity and temperature. Pleasing a new wealthy merchant class, vernacular furniture was…
This very fine ladies vanity cabinet is covered with red lacquer, the color of blessings (fu), highlighted with gold and deeply carved and painted decorations of auspicious symbols to bring happiness, good fortune, long life and many sons to the elite couple who may have received it as a wedding gift by parents in hopes of them successfully carrying on the family tradition. This is a reflection of the Confucian belief having sons to carry on the family name is essential to real happiness.
The low profile and fine lacquered finish of this charming antique wood chest add warmth and a touch of antique fine craftsmanship to any setting. The two intricately carved drawers for storage lend it to a multitude of uses. Carved auspicious symbols to bring the Five Blessings or Happinesses include peonies and vines, butterflies, plum blossom and a Japanese lily. The sides have inset panel with florals and the bottom has a decorative apron with a beautiful fretwork vine design. Its warm patina extends to the detailed brass butterfly handles.
Small red and gold decorated and carved cabinets like this were wedding gifts, often by parents, as a wish for the young couple to be fertile and have many sons. Auspicious symbols here include a peony a metaphor for female beauty and fertility and a willow, like the peony, representing spring – the season of youth, new beginnings, optimism and fertility.
This unique pair of attendants was likely placed on a home altar flanking and looking slightly inward to a Buddhist or Taoist figure or deity. Standing on circular pedestals, they smile slightly with down cast eyes presenting boxed offerings. One box has ribbons symbolizing the object’s miraculous powers and a wish for longevity. Rare to find pairs of charming figurines, they look even better on custom frosted Acrylic stands.
This Burmese teak heddle pulley is topped by a graceful peacock. The peacock symbolizes wholeness, combining all colors with its spread tail and the fleeting nature of all sentient beings. Drawing on old animistic beliefs, old folk art Burmese heddles are decorated with carvings of mythical or auspicious animals providing the weaver protection and assuring good quality weaving. Mounted on wood base.
This elegant heddle pulley carved from a single piece of Burmese teak is topped by a peacock, which in Buddhism represents the short-lived nature of all things. Borrowing from ancient animistic traditions, it was believed that auspicious symbolic animal images protected the weaver, assured quality weaving, and pleased the gods and spirits. This antique folk piece is wonderfully weathered from time and use.
This rare 5 piece apple green Shiwan ceramic “garniture set” comprised of two vases, 2 candlestick holders and a large censer was originally placed on a family altar in a central room which was the focal point of an affluent Chinese dwelling. Ritually used to perform ancestral offerings on a daily, semimonthly, and seasonal basis, compete sets in excellent condition are relative rare.
Shiwan stoneware fruit offerings were placed on the altar during the Ming to substitute for or augment fresh offerings. The three peaches and lotuses on a footed bowl are auspicious Chinese symbols associated with springtime, fertility and a long healthy life for many generations.
This delicate and vibrant Qing dynasty Shiwan stoneware glazed sculpture represents fresh fruit that symbolizes life and new beginnings would have been placed on a temple or home altar to represent and/or augment plates of stacked fresh fruit. Fresh fruit symbolizes life and new beginnings. These offerings are still made to honor the family’s ancestors, communicate with deities and bring prosperity, good luck and health to the home and would be an auspicious and decorative addition to any home settings where family members past and present are honored.
Most antique Chinese outdoor garden stools were made in a drum or barrel shape using common ceramic designs like decorative fretwork, low relief decoration, simple pierced schemes, a variety of underglaze painted images, and calligraphyand fired in kilns. The upper border of the body of this beautiful stoneware garden stool is covered with four color…
Most antique Chinese outdoor garden stools were made in a drum or barrel shape using common ceramic designs like decorative fretwork, low relief decoration, simple pierced schemes, a variety of underglaze painted images, calligraphy and more. The upper border of the body of this beautiful stoneware garden stool is covered with four color bands that…
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