Coins symbolize wealth and ancient ones are said to ward off evil. Round coins (huan fa) or “Chinese cash,” are the most highly used and lowest Chinese monetary denomination and symbols of prosperity and wealth. The round cash is the shape of heaven having a square opening or “eye” in the center that reflects the ancient Chinese belief that the earth is square. Known as “eye coins” (yanqian), a pun for “before your eyes,” it means wealth and prosperity are before you or on the way. A double intertwined coin design is one of the Chinese Eight Treasures (babao) and a popular and auspicious ornament. Since the the word for “eight” ba rhymes with fa meaning “to expand” this double word association is a wish “to expand in wealth.
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5-sided Shiwan glazed stoneware pillow with slanted top, used for smoking opium. The cool shell cradled the users’ heads and necks and hollow inside stored valuables. A candle placed inside emits a shadowy coin appealed to those in an opium state.
Taoist God of Wealth (Caishen) portrayed as benevolent authoritative figure associated with wealth: holds tael, robe with coin decorations, painted with red and gold.
Chopsticks are ubiquitous in Chinese culture, and are often included in a bride’s dowry as a wish for a speedy arrival of many sons. This Shiwan ware green glazed wall pocket chopsticks holder has characters wishing for many sons and grandsons and an upside down bat holding a coin for “blessings in front of your eyes.”
Decorative utilitarian Shiwanware 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.”
Ceramic barrel shaped garden stools with cut cobalt blue auspicious double coin images as wealth symbols and 2 Tao tieh masks in relief with pierced rings to symbolically avoid gluttony, greed and desire.
This pendent on this necklace is a re-strike of 1760 German thaler with vintage French fittings. The rolo style 950 silver chain is 21″ and has a hook closure with the Barry Brinker (BB) signature flame shaped tag clasp.
One-of-a-kind Barry Brinker necklace with vintage silver Latvian coin pendant issued in 1920 by the short lived Republic of Latvia. High grade German silver with French fittings.
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