Consecrated

Many Chinese wood images have a hallowed-out cavity on their back which was central to an “eye opening” ceremony held to imbue each carving with its own life force. All Images – Buddhism, Taoist or Popular religion – had to be consecrated by a Taoist Priest, Buddhist Monk or spiritual leaders to be placed on a home altar and to protect all family members and domestic animals. The cavity was filled with ritual objects and may have included documents like favorite Buddhist sutras, Taoist poems or prayers, messages to ancestors, entreaties to deities, or a script by the presiding person describing the figure and when and by whom it was commissioned. The ceremony was attended by the artist, donor, relatives and friends, and other Taoist or Buddhist congregants. The cavity was sealed and eyes were painted to impart sight, the final component of life. Stevens states carvings were “respectfully presented to have its eyes opened before the Gods so that it. would be able to rid their dwelling of evil spirits and bring them blessings.”Most bungs and contents have been removed; we believe unopened ones should remain in difference to the spiritual traditional and history they represent.

Showing 25–36 of 64 results

  • Antique Kitchen God and His Wife, China (16850H-BME) SPECIAL PRICE

    $785.00
    H: 7.75″  W: 3.25″  D: 2.375″ | free shipping within Continental U.S.!

    Finely detailed and carved from dense wood, this Kitchen God and his Wife monitor the members of the home from their perch above the stove. On Chinese New Year Zao Shen reports to the Jade Emperor in Heaven and a positive report bringsblessings and good fortune, while and unfavorable one brings misfortune. Family members often smear honey on his mouth to sweeten the report.  Near mirror images they wear layered gold officials’ robes with decorative sashes and symbolically hold a hu tablet. They are in excellent condition and add positive chi and enhance feng shui. Kitchen Gods especially pairs are now rare and very collectible and make unique wedding and house gifts.

     

  • Antique Lacquered Wood Infant Buddha at Birth. China (3198CSK) $985

    $985.00

    Antique-Chinese-wood-carving images of the Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, especially, those portrayed as an infant right after his miraculous birth, are rare, as they were not generally used on a home altar, although this one this one probably was since the cavity in the back indicates it was consecrated.  Carved from one dense piece of wood,…

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  • Antique Large Buddha in Teaching Mudra, China (17013BREM) CALL FOR PRICE

    $0.00
    H: 30″  W: 18″  D: 10″ | CALL 213-568-3030 FOR SHIPPING AND PRICE INFORMATION

    This superb, colorful and rare carved Buddha is seated in vitarka-mudra, the taching hand position. His delicately carved calm face has a benevolent and compassionate expression with a slight reassuring smile. The elegant body appears to float above deeply carved swirls reminiscent of clouds. Fine facial features, the graceful body and exquisitely carved and painted drapery make this a truly impressive and striking image. Given its size and masterful carving , it should hold a place and be revered commensurate with its spirituality and artistry.

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  • Antique Large Lohan, Probably Bodhidharma, China (16436B-WHKE) SPECIAL PRICE

    $7,300.00

    The original 16 or18 arhats in Theravada Buddhism, later called Lohans in Mahayana Buddhism, were the original disciples of Gautama Buddha. Able to attain enlightenment and enter nirvana, instead they remained on earth to aid Buddhist devotees to reach nirvana. Buddhist temples are often lined with 18 lohan but there may be many more. Never…

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  • Antique Mandarin Ancestor Figure, China (16479BLK) SPECIAL PRICE

    $450.00

    Designation as civilian Mandarin officials was so significant that families fervently sought to perpetuate this image through generations in carved and painted ancestral renderings, especially ancestor-figures. This civilian official sits in the traditional official’s pose with arms on short armrests in an an ornately carved high back chair,  curved backrest, tall legs and vertical slats…

  • Antique Mandarin Ancestor In Horseshoe Chair, China (19054BOK) $850

    $850.00

    Mandarin-officials were very highly regarded bureaucratic scholars serving the government of Imperial China and were often honored by their family descendants who included ancestor-figures in Mandarin officials-attire on the family home altar or shrine from the Ming Dynasty through the Qing (aka Manchu) Dynasty. As part of ancestor-worship these figures were the highest form of…

  • Antique Mandarin Ancestor on Horseshoe Chair, China (18061BEM) $455

    $455.00

    Ancestor-figures like this portrayed as a Mandarin official were placed on a home altar along with other house gods and religious images to bring blessings of fu to the household. Mandarin officials were lesser status public officials who acquired this rank by passing rigid exams. In the Qing dynasty this designation was considered so significant…

  • Sale!

    Antique Mazu the Taoist Empress of Heaven in Horseshoe Chair, China (6003) 1050

    Original price was: $1,050.00.Current price is: $900.00.

    Mazu represents different ideologies among two distinct Chinese economic groups: the masses of devotees who adore her in oral traditions as the humble provincial deity “Goddess of the Sea” versus the imperial followers who revere her in written tradition as the sanctioned “Empress of Heaven.”  Two centuries after her death she was imperially sanctified, transforming…

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  • Antique Ming Songzi Guanyin, Bestower of Children, China (16057BAK) $1350 SPECIAL PRICE

    $1,350.00

    Of Guanyin’s 33 manifestations, Songzi Guanyin (Bestower of Children or Child-giving) was one of the most favored during the Ming and Qing dynasties when small  images were placed on a home altar for veneration by families desirous of having a male child to carry on the family legacy. Songzi Guanyin is a syncretic goddess, embraced…

  • Antique Nanhai Guanyin with Attendants and Donor, China (16210BEME) $5900 SPECIAL PRICE

    $5,900.00

    This Nanhai Guanyin sits in her cave home on the island of Putuo represented by pierced openwork, craggy surfaces and open area at the cave top. Guanyin’s image almost fills the cave’s opening seated in dhyana (meditation), thumbs forming a triangle symbolizing the triratna, the Three Gems of Buddhism (the Buddha, the Dharma (Buddha’s teachings)…

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  • Antique Official in Red Robes with a Hu Tablet, China (16851BOK)

    $875.00

    Ancestor-figures portrayed as Chinese-officials were placed on a home altar with other house gods and religious images to bring fu to the household. During the Qing dynasty, designation as an Official was so significant families sought to emphasize this achievement in family ancestral figures. As traditional,  this carve official has a serious expression, sits on…

  • Antique Official Showing His Belt of Office (19047LHE) SPECIAL PRICE

    $985.00

    Officials are often portrayed in Chinese woodcarvings in a stable seated position with feet placed and firmly planted on a plinth. This compact Qing portrayal presents a person of importance and control, and it is reinforced here with an intense expression and closed eyes making him a bit detached to fortify his status, rank and…

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