Auspicious Symbols

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.

Showing 25–36 of 41 results

  • Sale!

    Antique Stoneware Lotus and Frog Wall Pocket, Shiwan, China (19302JAL) $285

    Original price was: $285.00.Current price is: $242.25.
    H: 8.25” W: 6.75” D: 3.5” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.

    Wall pockets remain a very common decorative element in Asian homes. In China, they are used to hold chopsticks and flowers to bring good fortune to a space where the family gathers. This Shiwan stoneware pocket has 2 very auspicious symbols: a frog and a lotus that symbolize nurturing energy and transformation. With a hole in the back for hanging on a wall, it is great addition to enhance a kitchen’s coziness and feng shui and a wonderful wedding gift.

  • Sale!

    Antique Stoneware Wall Pocket Chopsticks Holder, China, Shiwan China (16966A-PAL) $115

    Original price was: $115.00.Current price is: $97.75.
    H: 7.375″ W: 5.125″ D: 2.5″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    Decorative utilitarian Shiwan ware pieces are recognized for their fine modeling, vivid expression, and colorful apple-green and drip glazes.  Chopsticks were commonly stored in wall pockets with a hole for mounting. Covered with auspicious symbols, they were often part of a bride’s dowry as “chopsticks” is a pun for “speedy arrival of sons.” It can hold utensils, dried flowers, and other objects and is a unique wedding gift.

     

  • Sale!

    Antique Stoneware Wall Pocket Chopsticks Holder, Shiwan, China (16966B-PAL) $115

    Original price was: $115.00.Current price is: $97.75.
    H: 7.375″ W: 5.125″ D: 2.5″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    Decorative utilitarian Shiwan ware pieces are recognized for their fine modeling, vivid expression, and colorful apple-green and drip glazes. Chopsticks were commonly stored in wall pockets with a hole for mounting. Covered with auspicious symbols, they were often part of a bride’s dowry as “chopsticks” is a pun for “speedy arrival of sons.” It can hold utensils, dried flowers, and other objects and is a unique wedding gift.

  • Sale!

    Antique Teak Hamsa Heddle Pulley, Stand, Burma/Myanmar (11298B-WHK) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $265.00.Current price is: $225.25.
    Ht: 10.625″ W: 3.375″  D: 2.5″|FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S. !

    This elegant heddle pulley with a hamsa is carved from a single piece of Burmese teak and portrayed with deeply cut wings to express well-articulated feathers. Having an unusually long tail, it runs from his rear and curves to the top of its head. Its feet are atop two connected heart-shaped panels that hide the moving thimble between them providing a more artistic feel. This piece is in very good condition, is wonderfully weathered, and has with minor losses with a fine patina covers its originally painted surface. Mounted on a black wood base, this heddle pulley pairs well with item number 11298A.

  • Sale!

    Antique Wood Oil Lamp Double Fish Design, China (16902A-POK) $295

    Original price was: $295.00.Current price is: $250.75.
    H: 33″ W: 5.75″ D: 8″| EMAIL [email protected] OR CALL US AT 213-568-3030 FOR SHIPPING COST.

    Oil lamps were a form of lighting similar to candles using a small pool of oil with a cord wick in the center. This tall unique wood carved lamp anchored by on a square stone stand has the area holding the oil jutted out halfway up the piece in the center of a lotus seed pod placed on a lotus leaf, topped by a pair of facing fish with finely detailed scales symbolizing harmony, marital happiness and double fish mean “may there be abundance” (especially for sons). It was probably a wedding gift and would be a unique one today.

    Add to cartLoading Done
  • Sale!

    Antique Wood Oil Lamp with Double Fish, Lotus Design, China (16902B-POK) $295

    Original price was: $295.00.Current price is: $250.75.
    H: 33″ W: 5.75″ D: 8″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This tall unique hand-carved wood oil lamp is beautifully decorated with auspicious symbols to entice positive energy and luck in marriage and the arrival of many sons.: on top a pair of finely carved fish, a lotus seed pod on a lotus leaf to hold the oil and a base with a round lotus shape atop a square stone. In excellent condition, it was a well-used piece demonstrated by charred edges on the oil cup from the wick burning until all the oil was depleted.

    Add to cartLoading Done
  • Sale!

    Antique/Vintage Porcelain Taoist Immortal Lu Dongbin, Chinese Republic (17034GRK) $295

    Original price was: $295.00.Current price is: $250.75.
    Ht: 9.75” W: 3.5” D: 3.5” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This colorful Chinese Republic porcelain is the most popular of the Eight Immortals Lu Dongbin, who symbolizes immortality and long life. Dressed as a scholar, his beard is pushed to the side as he is in motion riding waves to show his magical powers. He holds a fly whisk which, along with the sword he often carries, are personal auspicious symbols. The most colorful of the immortals, he is worshipped by for his medical prowess and by scholars in homes and temples.

  • Sale!

    Antique/Vintage Small Square Rug with 4 Bats, China (3373DRE)

    Original price was: $375.00.Current price is: $318.00.
    H: 26″    W: 26″        |  FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    Perfect for meditation to sit on, an accent piece or hung on a wall, this small antique vibrant fringed carpet square has the quintessential auspicious design motif – the bat, or even better four of them. The word bat (fu) is a homophone and wish for blessings, happiness and riches. Upside down ones are a pun for the word arrival, meaning blessings have arrived. Double blessings arrive with 2 bats and 4 is the lucky jackpot bring quadrupled blessings. Why not have good luck and beauty too.

  • Sale!

    Brick Tile of Couple Feasting and Figure Pointing to Flying Bat, China (3349BLE) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $465.00.Current price is: $318.75.

    This late Song dynasty earthenware ceramic brick tile portrays a couple sitting behind a banquet table with foods placed in front of them. On the right are two figures, one of whom points to a stylized image of a bat flying in the sky.

  • Sale!

    Han Dynasty Cocoon Jar with Cloud Designs, China (16015UHEM) $2100

    Original price was: $2,100.00.Current price is: $1,785.00.
    H: 11.75” W: 12.25” D: 7.5” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    Cocoon jars were mingqi made for placement in tombs to comfort the deceased on their journey to and in their afterlife. An elixir of Immortality made from mulberry leaves or their ashes was placed inside for the deceased to drink and transmigrate into the world of the beyond. Ovoid in shape to resemble a silkworm cocoon, ajar rests on a small trumpet-shaped foot and has a narrow neck and a wide lip at its mouth. Painted after firing with vertical bands dividing it into panels, swirling cloud scrolls, and circular “eye” motifs at each end, this beautiful vessel is in excellent condition for its age with expected paint losses, scrapes, and dirt adhesions.

    Add to cartLoading Done
  • Sale!

    Porcelain Immortal, Chinese Republic, China (17042ZRK) $295

    Original price was: $295.00.Current price is: $250.75.
    H: 12” W: 4.5” D: 3” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.

    This elegant Chinese Republic Period porcelain is the Taoist immortal Han Xiangzi carrying his auspicious flute dressed in a beautiful blue robe with wide black borders, fine internal decorations and a decorative yellow floral undergarment. On the bottom is the kiln seal. As the patron saint of musicians and florists, it is a great gift for someone who enjoys these pursuits.

  • Sale!

    SOLD Song Dynasty Tile of Vase with Flowers, China (3347BLE) $995 with Acrylic Stand

    Original price was: $995.00.Current price is: $845.75.
    H: 11”  W: 9.5”  D: 1.65” | FREE SHIPPING

    This earthenware brick tile bordered with a deep scalloped frame depicts a vase with a bouquet of propitious flowers: a chrysanthemum and a peony wrapped with an elegant ribbon. Tiles like this were made to decorate the large numbers of buildings created during the prosperous Song dynasty and to adorn tombs. This elegant brick is in good condition for its age with expected chips and cracks, some restoration of background and a re-glued frame break on each side. It has earth adherents from its burial in a tomb.

End of content

End of content