Clouds

Rain for China’s agricultural needs are produced by clouds (yun), so they are auspicious symbols, a visual pun and a homophone for fortune (yun) and good fortune (fuyun). There are also wish granting clouds (ruyiyun) symbolizing the granting of all one’s wishes as they echo the shape of and are a homophone for the wish granting wand (ruyi) which means “as you wish” or “may all your wishes come true.” Yunwen is another word for the swirling cloud forms painted on Han Dynasty cocoon jars and elsewhere in Chinese art. As the top portion of the wish granting wand (ruyi) echoes the shape of the wish granting sacred fungus (lingzhi), they are also seen as homophonic puns with the same meaning.

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  • Antique Ancestor Official in Ornate Robe with Raised Lacquer Designs (5686BREM)

    $4,950.00
    H: 23.5″  W: 15.625″  D: 10″ |  CALL US AT 213-568-3030 for SHIPPING and Price INFORMATION

    This exceptional Qing carving portrays a seated official ancestor wearing  traditional official’s clothing, a red and black official’s hat and black boots. His inset glass eyes and high cheekbones frame a large curved nose, a strong projecting chin and forehead wrinkles indicating a man of importance with the wisdom of age who demands respect. The top two robe layers have wide borders with marvelous raised lacquer decorations that include beautiful cloud forms, flying phoenixes with spread wings and floral sprays.

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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 Polychrome Mazu “Holy Mother in Heaven,” China (3429AEM) $1400

    $1,450.00
    H: 19.25″  W: 10″  D: 8.75″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    Seated imperiously on a horseshoe chair with legs on a turquoise embossed pedestal on a base with carved  characters of her title “Holy Mother in Heaven,” this majestic Mazu is depicted in the imperial style, wearing a regal flat topped headdress and elaborate robes with dragons and an officials girdle at the waist highlighted in red and covered with gilt. This wonderful carving is in excellent condition after years of use.

     

     

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  • Antique Shen Nong, Founder of Natural Medicine, China (16530BCEM) $4600

    $4,600.00
    H: 30.5″  W: 19.5″  D: 11.75″ | call US AT 213-568-3030 FoR SHIPPING AND PRICE INFORMATION

    Thislarge image Shen Nong is carved in the round. He sits on clouds with a knee up, shoulders covered with leaves also draped down his back. A ribbon covers his genitals underneath his bared navel. His face is set in a benevolent smile, and his beard and eyebrows consist of finely styled curls.  Exquisitely carved and extremely rare, this statue would be a prized image for anyone in the medical or pharmaceutical field.

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  • Antique Stone Fu Lion, China (16394JLM) $195

    $195.00
    H: 4.5″  Dia: 3.25″ | FREE SHIPPING

    This hand carved antique stone flu lion is a fun loving benevolent creature as seen in his open mouth with sharp teeth in a fanciful grin with a curled tongue, mischievously twinkling eyes under bushy eyebrows and a compressed rotund body with a very small tail. This is not your refined portrait of an elegant protective beast, it’s just a friendly pet hanging out with you. He probably lived in the garden of a provincial fun-loving family and is looking for a similar environment where people like old wonderful pieces to remind them not to take themselves too seriously.

  • Antique Taoist Official Holding a Hu Tablet, China (19043QRK) $295

    $295.00
    H: 12.875”  W: 5”  D: 2.75” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This carving  is a Taoist official or priest wearing a traditional high hat, a high collared robe adorned with painted cobalt blue cloud designs, and an official’s belt. Seated on a modest low backless chair, he holds a long, slender and curved Hu tablet and the open cavity on the back contains its concentration slip placed there during an eye-opening ceremony. .

     

  • Antique/Vintage Porcelain Immortal Lu Dongbin, Chinese Republic (17035WRK) $295

    $295.00
    Ht: 10”  W: 3.25”  D: 3.25” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This polychrome vintage Chinese Republic porcelain figurine represents the most famous and colorful of the Taoist Eight Immortals, Lu Dongbin. He holds his fly whisk at his cheek, a traditional symbol of one who can fly at will. His face has a sweet benign smile with a long beard extending to his waist. He stands on a base with green and black swirling cloud forms indicating his ability to fly. He wears the robes of a Taoist sage in richly painted colors. The figure is in excellent condition and dates to the Republic of China Period circa 1920-1940.

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

    $295.00
    Ht: 9.75”  W: 3.5”  D: 3.5” | FREE SHIPPING!

    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.

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

    $2,100.00
    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.

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

    $445.00
    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.

  • Vintage Bearded Doll Official-Dancer Acrylic Stand, China (1301B-EAO) $195

    $195.00
    Ht: 8.75″  D: 4″  D: 3.125″: | FREE SHIPPING

    This delightful doll mounted on a frosted acrylic stand is dressed as a bearded official wearing a traditional ‘spread-wing” official’s hat. Originally mounted on a wood stick seen under his attire, he wears a dark blue and gold robe with a loose black, red and silver official’s belt and boots.  Although dressed as a Chinese official, he is clearly an entertainer. He holds a set of paper clappers – Kuaiban – meaning “fast boards,” a two-millennia old Chinese castanets-like instrument made of bamboo or wood slats tied together which entertainers rattle, shake, or clap together to produce a complementary sound or beat. This piece is in excellent condition with expected signs of wear and use in the clothing and minor paint losses.

     

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