Deities and Legends

Historically deities and deified humans have played a significant role in Asia the spiritual, cultural and daily life activities. In China and India, these beings serve a significant role in human activities by monitoring individual’s activities and responding with rewards or punishment. Deities and legends are propitiated in temples and home altars and shrines with offerings to protect and aid the living. The large pantheon of Chinese major and minor deities and legendary figures have been worshiped since ancient times. Gods created the world and humans and keep everything safe and well-functioning. Gods and deified legendary humans live the heavenly realms of immortality and are actively involved with human activities from intimate moments to events of national importance. Along with ancestors, gods have been a bridge between the living and the deceased and are revered and propitiated to watch over the living. The most venerated Chinese gods are the Jade Emperor, Queen Mother of the West, the Eight Immortals, Guanyin, Matsu, and the gods of wealth, war, literature, and happiness. Although outlawed as superstition in 1949 by the Communist Party, deities and legendary figures are still worshipped in Chinese homes world wide..

Showing 25–36 of 40 results

  • Antique Silver Hindu Pendant Necklace Krishna with Gopis, India (20045BCL) $695

    $695.00
    Ht: 3.625”  W: 3.5”  D: 0.75  5oz. | FREE SHIPPING!

    This rare antique tribal amulet of high grade silver with fine high relief craftsmanship is truly magnificent. It portrays Hindu Lord Krishna sitting in the Tree of Life playing his melodious flute serenading the Gopis who become enthralled with his spiritual music symboling the Hindu belief in the loving interplay between the deities and the human soul. Krishna pendants are protective, have healing powers and bring devotees spiritually closer to him.

  • Antique Stone Earth God Tudi Gong, China (17406BSK) $725

    $725.00
    H: 8”  W: 5”  D4” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This antique stone Tudi Gong statue was finely crafted by a local provincial artisan and reflects many traditional characteristics of this beloved lower status deity: a benevolent face, voluminous rotund belly, slouched shoulders, and holding taels to bestow wealth and fortune and maybe assurances to rural common folk. In his past he rested happily on an outdoor shrine, and would be very happy to continue doing so in a home garden to bring prosperity and an aura of past times to a new family.

    Click here for Blog Tudi Gong: the Taoist and Popular Religion Earth God

  • Antique Taoist Literature God on a Dragon, China (16615PBRK) $795

    $795.00
    H: 15.5”  W: 5.5  D: 4.5” | FREE SHIPPING

    This rare house god image from South China is Wen Chang, the Taoist God of Literature and many realms associated with higher intellect, and education. He is a tall, extremely thin, surly, demon like image with ribs showing and facial distortions standing firmly on a dragon’s head  among waves holding his belt. Chinese turned to him for wealth, health, long life, and good fortune. Unlike ancestor figures, this carving was probably displayed independently in a prominent place in the office of a Chinese official or scholar. Increasingly difficult to find, this piece would enhance any desk, library, study, or other location.  It is in excellent condition with a warm patina, full of finely modeled details with a few surface scratches and paint losses consistent with its age.

     

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  • Antique Taoist Priest on a Horse, China (16085BCK) $795

    $795.00
    H: 13”  W: 4”  D: 7” | FREE SHIPPING

    This fine carving is likely a Taoist priest dressed in official garments astride a lively horse that was originally place on a home or community clan shrine to protect devotees. In contrast to the erect and calm priest with expressive facial features, the ornately attired horse is active as it turns his head, opens his mouth, and widens his nostrils.  The priest’s powers as a guardian figure are symbolized in his hat with a mythical taotie that wards off evil and warns against gluttony and his raised hand in prana mudra that activates vital energy flow to avert evil and bring good fortune.

  • Antique Wood Zhenwu, The Taoist “Perfected Warrior”, China (19066BME) $575

    $575.00
    H: 13”  W: 5”  D: 4.875” | FREE SHIPPING!

    The Taoist god Zhenwu, the Perfected Warrior, is one of the most revered Chinese Taoist deities venerated for his ability to heal as well as to protect his country and the emperor. In this fine provincial piece he is humbly presented with a plain robe with an official’s belt wrapped around his back and over his ample stomach which more resembles a Chinese official than a deified warrior.  His face has well-defined features including the eyes and lips set in a benevolent slight smile. It was painted in polychrome and some of the original black, yellow, and red paint can be seen on the bottom.

     

  • Antique Zhenwu, The Taoist “Perfected Warrior,” China (16097BME) $595

    $595.00
      H: 12”  W: 5.625”  D: 4” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This charming and rare provincial carving represents the Emperor Zhenwu known as True Warrior or Perfected Warrior who is one of the most revered Chinese Taoist figures, venerated for his military skill and his ability to heal and protect his country. Although he generally sits on a throne with a snake under his right foot and a tortoise under his left, here his left foot rests on the tortoise’s back entwined by a snake. Covered in gilt, he wears a plain official’s robe rather than military garb, and holds a jade belt, a portrayal often mistaken as a simple official. His long black flows down his back, covering and surrounding the rear cavity.

     

  • Antique/Vintage Brass Nandi Figurine, India (9509A-GAH) $245

    $245.00
    H: 4.5”  W: 2.25”  D: 3.25” | FREE SHIPPING

    This well articulated figurine features is Nandi decorated with jewels and recumbent on a high-tiered pedestal throne. Nandi figurines are placed on home altars for daily puja and are decorated with flowers and incense offerings as a sign of respect and this image has an attached incense holder for this purpose. Made using lost wax casting, it is a one-of-a-kind piece in very good condition with a fine patina and smooth surface.

     

     

  • Antique/Vintage Carved House Deity, China (7507QOK) $295

    $295.00
    H: 12.7”  W: 3.375”  D: 3”| FREE SHIPPING!

    Images like this were commissioned by families to honor departed ancestors, and this family seems to have requested an amplified tribute by posing him with characteristics of Guandi, the god of war, or maybe it is Guandi very liberally depicted by a provincial artist. He sits on a high backless chair, hands on knees, one holding a small tael and the other poised to hold a sword, wearing military maille at the chest and knees, also used in depictions of Guandi. The calligraphy on the base is the name Wu (last) Fa Tian (first), the ancestor to whom the statue was dedicated.

  • Antique/Vintage Earth God Tudi Gong with Wife, China (16342LOE) $750

    $750.00
    H: 12.375”  W: 4.875”  D: 3.625” | FREE SHIPPING

    This merry pair of Tudi Gong, the Earth God with his wife Tudi Po are portrayed as very endearing, jolly and approachable deities who probably were placed on a home shrine in a rural agrarian area. They are dressed as lower status civilian officials in elaborate but earthy robes in vibrant hues – he with a mandarin square of a bird and she with a stylized phoenix on her hat and sit in officials poses on backless chairs with a decorative pedestals. Just being in their presence makes you want to smile and share their happiness.

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  • Antique/Vintage Framed Glass Painting of a Peacock, India (3982MCE) $395

    $395.00
    H: 16″  W: 13 ” D:  1″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This glass painting of a peacock with Krishna Playing his Flute (3983MCE) was one of a pair of inset panels in a highly decorative antique Indian cabinet or chest. Beautifully painted with reflective silver accents it is a vibrant an d remarkable wall hanging.  As both panels were originally displayed together, we recommend they be kept as a pair. Peacocks, the national bird of India, are an integral part of Hindu and Indian art and culture depicted in spiritual and decorative art.

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  • Antique/Vintage Framed Glass Painting of Krishna Playing his Flute, India (3982MCE) $395

    $395.00
    H: 16″ W: 13″ D: 1″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This vibrant glass painting of Krishna along with the painting of a Peacock (3983MCE) were insets in a highly decorated Indian wood cabinet or chest. Krishna is one of the most popular Hindu deities, beautifully depicted here in a bright yellow dhoti, peacock feather crown, and jewels in serenading his adoring gopis with his engaging flute. The unique frame complements the paianting’s richness and vintage feel.

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  • Antique/Vintage Jetayu Mask, Museum Quality Stand, Bali (1208JKE) $650

    $650.00
    H: 13.75”  W: 6.25”  D: 9” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    Jetayu is the mythical demi-god divine bird in the Hindu epic the Ramayana. It is a very rare Balinese mask with a fine patina from decades of dance performances. The crowned forehead and snout, huge round eyes, wide-open mouth, curled leather tongue, expressive jaw muscles with upper and lower sets of piercing sharp teeth in graduated sizes reflect the pinnacle of skilled woodcarving and polychrome painting.

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