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 37–40 of 40 results

  • Sale!

    Song Dynasty Tile of Woman Ascending to Heaven, China (3348BLK) $445

    Original price was: $445.00.Current price is: $378.25.
    H: 6.5”  W: 8.125  D: 1.5” | FREE SHIPPING

    This ancient Song dynasty tile is likely a memorial tile as it portrays an official, hands in a farewell gesture looking up with devotion to his wife or mother ascending toward heavens on a cloud.  A very striking and emotive scene, it would be a great wall piece with an appropriate mount.

  • Sale!

    Song Dynnasty Tile of Immortal with Firecracker, China (5515LEM) $495

    Original price was: $495.00.Current price is: $420.75.
    H: 7” W: 5” D: 2.75” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.

    This Song earthenware tile depicts the legendary scholar, poet and alchemist Taoist deity Lu Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals, who sought to discover the elixir of immortality and used charms still used in Chinese homes to prevent illness and ward off evil. He and his fly whisk are auspicious symbols of longevity and a wish for immortality.

  • Sale!

    Vintage Heddle Pulley with a Mythical Animal (3303EKE) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $245.00.Current price is: $208.25.
    Ht: 12”  W: 4.125”  D: 3.25” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    Burmese heddle-pulleys are decorated with carvings of mythical or auspicious animals to provide protection and assure good quality weaving. A powerful ferocious Burmese Lion with open roaring mouth and thick main sits atop the pulley highlighting the area below where the weaving thread travels around the bobbin between the wood triangle pieces holding it. A fine folk art teak carving in excellent condition it is mounted on a metal pole on a black wood base.

  • Sale!

    Vintage Porcelain Elegant Lady with Rose, Chinese Republic (17036JRK) $240

    Original price was: $240.00.Current price is: $204.00.

    Ht: 9.75″  W: 3.5″  D: 2.5″  |   FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S. !

    This Chinese Republic Period delicate porcelain figurine holds a rose at her heart in her right snow white hand, her left arm covered by her shawl resting on a waist-high decorative vase with an opening to hold incense (joss) sticks. Her shawl drapes over her shoulders and lower garment with floral motifs extending to the beaded belt at her waist. The sweet facial expression with slightly smiling bowed lips is framed by her piled hair looped in a chignon over each ear. Given her luxurious garments and accessories, she is an aristocratic woman. The rose was often used on porcelains  during this period, representing eternal spring.  

     

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