Buddhist Art

Buddhist art includes statues, paintings and ritual items associated with Buddhism. Buddhists have used painted and carved images of enlightened beings including Buddhas, Guanyin, Bodhisattvas, Lohans, monks and other deities, attendants and acolytes for nearly two millennia to show devotees how Truth can be found within oneself through meditation and spiritual training. Statues of the Buddha and other enlightened beings are placed in temples, monasteries or home shrines as a reminder of the spiritual potential inherent within all of us to awaken to the Truth as the Buddha, a fellow human being, did. When one pays reverence to Buddhist images, they are not worshipping the image, rather the image reminds them of the great compassion of the Enlightened Ones who have taught them the way to liberation.

Showing 1–12 of 67 results

  • Antique Attendant with Celestial Scarf, China (16726HKE) $2450

    $2,450.00
    H: 25”  W: 7.5”  D: 6” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This lovely carving of a beautiful young woman represents an attendant that would have been housed on a home altar or shrine to accompany an enlightened Buddhist or Taoist figure at whom she modestly gazes.  Her hands, covered by a draped ritual cloth, hold offerings and the swirling ribbon implying her power, weightlessness or being in the heavens. This truly elegant and forceful statue with winding ribbons reflect the auspicious phrase  “May longevity bring blessings.” Its lustrous patina attained over centuries adds to its depth, softness and grace which enhance the energy in any space it occupies. 

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  • Antique Attendant with Marriage Inscription, China (16260ZOK) $485

    $485.00
    H: 7.5”  W: 3”  D: 2.75” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This precious finely-carved diminutive figurine is an enlightened Buddhist attendant who stands on a double lotus base used only for enlightened beings as part of an array of images to bless the family for a special occasion – the marriage of a son or daughter as indicated by the inscription on the back. With hands in reverence her eyes glance down down modestly with dellight for the figure she attends and the joyous occasion .  The skillful modeling of the image and the detailed inscription make this a very special piece.

     

  • Antique Bronze Miniature Stupa/Pagoda, Nepal (3207LME) $425

    $425.00
    H: 3.25” Dia: 2.25″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    This 18th-century antique hand-made bronze 7-level stupa/pagoda was made in Nepal and was purchased in the 1970s in Kathmandu. This fine example has decorative details around the base and two of the round eaves have scalloped edges. It was used for personal devotion on a home altar or shrine. Antique Buddhist items are now extremely scarce in Nepal.

  • Antique Buddha as an Infant on a Lion, China (19405DRK) $850

    $850.00
    H: 9″  W: 3.625″  D: 3.5″ | FREE UPS SHIPPING!

    This rare carving of the infant Buddha with well defined features is clearly a provincial rendering that uniquely departs from traditional renderings. He holds a monk’s begging bowl as he points to the heavens and he stands on a lion’s head, as he is the lion of the Shakya clan. Given its small size, it was probably displayed on a home altar.

  • Antique Carved Buddha in Freedom from Fear, Laos (3148LKE) $1275

    $1,275.00
    H: 20”  W: 3.75”  D: 3.75” | CALL 213-568-3030 FOR SHIPPING

    This antique Lao Buddha stands in refined dignity displaying inner tranquility and strength, hands in abhaya mudra that connotes reassurance, divine protection, and dispelling fear and signifies Buddha’s spiritual power as he bestows protection from evil and ignorance and conveys “fear not” to devotees.  As typical of Lao Buddhas he is covered in gilt visually reflecting his golden skin and a finial or radiance as a flame emerging from his. His  wet style Buddha robe that is smooth and graceful in its simplicity and adds elegance to the carving.

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  • Antique Carved Lacquered Pair of Fu Lions on Pedestals, China (19074ASE) $995

    $995.00
    H: 12″  D: 7″  D: 7.75″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This very fine pair of antique carved males fu lions represents the dual nature of these mythical animals: as protective images they are powerful and fierce, as Buddhist images they are whimsical with smiling faces, dangling tongues, hanging ears and bushy tails. They are extremely well carved with harnesses and bells around their necks, detailed manes and tails on high intricately decorated bases to signal their importance. Perfect for enhancing feng shui in a home or office, large finely decorative wood pairs like this are extremely hard to find.

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  • Antique Carved Mazu, Protector of the Sea, China (19415PRO) $275

    $275.00
    H: 5.5”  W: 3.375  D: 3” | FREE SHIPPING

    This antique figurine is a matronly version of Mazu, Empress of Heaven in a horseshoe chair with gold earrings, hat topped with a phoenix and dressed in robes with a scalloped cloud collar. She is said to have lived in the 10th century only 28 years with a pure spirit and compassion for those in need throughout the world. With supernatural powers she performed miracles, subdued evil spirits and protected those at sea. After her death, she became a deity and is still widely prayed to as a Chinese deity.

  • Antique Carving of Guanyin with a Child, China (5301HEM ) $2,250

    $2,250.00
    Ht: 26”  W: 10.25” D: 7.5″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This rare, sensitive and beautifully carved image probably depicts Guanyin the Bodhisattva of Compassion and Mercy holding a young child’s hand glancing down with compassion and tenderness while he looks up at her for assurance and protection. This unique provincial Popular Religion carving depicts her as humble, engaging and modestly clad with a serene softness. It is similar to but different from Songzi Guanyin, the “Child-Giving Guanyin to whom couples pray to become fertile and to bear a son.

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  • Antique Guanyin a Holding Scroll, China (16420LKE) $1550

    $1,550.00
    H: 15.25″  W: 7.5″  D: 6.5″ |SHIPPING INFORMATION REQUIRED. CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    Masterfully carved, this Guanyin has gentle curves thrusting her weight in opposing directions in a lyrical posture in lalitsana. Her refined  right hand with gentle elongated fingers rests on her right knee and her left extends across her body to hold a scroll, symbolizing  the Lotus Sutra, one of the Buddhist scriptures where her deeds and powers are enumerated or the Dharma which she constantly reads. Portrayed as a mature compassionate woman in serene repose, her delicate face has half-closed almond eyes, pursed lips, and full cheeks. Her hair is atop her head in a chignon and she wears a loose robe open at the chest and tied at the waist. The deeply carved folds of the robe and the patterns on the rocky outcrop on which she sits exemplify the artisan’s superior craftsmanship.

     

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  • Antique Guanyin Held Up by Demons, China (16208VRKE) $5800

    $5,800.00
    H: 45″ W: 17.75″  D: 11.5″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This outstanding Guanyin wood carving is an extremely rare image and displays a wonderful earthy blend of Mahayana and Tantric (Tibetan) Buddhism and spiritual and folk traditions that resonated with provincial populations. She sits on a lotus above a hexagonal throne right raised in abhaya mudra, lobed crown is centered with the Amitabha Buddha inside an aureole. The four agonized creatures struggling to hold the calm Guanyin on their shoulders is a unique Tantric visual representation of the triumph of Buddhism over ignorance. Probably placed in a community shrine or Guanyin temple, the rear is unpainted as it was displayed high against a wall and foreshortened to be viewed from below. With its admonitions about greed, aversion and ignorance it is a great metaphor for our times. 

     

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  • Antique Guanyin in Meditation, China (16955BME) $425

    $425.00
    H: 9.75″  W: 5.625″  D: 3.75″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    In this provincial carving made for personal use, Guanyin the Bodhisattva of Compassion who hears the cries of all beings, sits in meditation with  flowing robes, half closed eyes, a round face and a slight smile, the embodiment of  loving-kindness.  Her 5-lobed crown is centered with radiating lines symbolizing the aureole of the Amitabha Buddha of Infinite Light.

  • Antique Guanyin in Royal Ease (Lalitsana), China, (16910BOE) $515

    $515.00
    Ht: 10.75″  W: 5.5″  D: 4.5″ | FREE SHIPPING in continental u.s.!

    This  lacquer woodcarving is a Guanyin manifestation called “white hooded,”  “white clad” or “white robed” Guanyin derived from the many paintings where she is clad in white. Although wood carvings usually portray her clothed in red, this finely carved version is covered in a lacquer coat that darkens naturally over time and darkens even more when honored on a home altar with daily prayers and offerings of smoky candles and burning incense.

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