Filial Piety

Xiao, the Chinese word for filial piety, is one of the foundations of Confucianism and was also embraced by Taoism. It delineates the attitude towards and practice of obedience, devotion, and care toward one’s parents and elder family members. In practicing piety, one puts the needs of parents and family elders over self, spouse, and children, deferring to parents’ judgment, and observing this reverence through prescribed behavioral acts of respect. Emphasizing rites and ritual behaviors is believed to strengthen family harmony, sociopolitical stability, and the power of the governing hierarchy. Ancestor worship and propitiating ancestor images on home altars with offerings and prayers are manifestations of filial piety. Belief in filial piety was later adopted in Japan.

Showing 1–12 of 13 results

  • Ancient Han Dynasty Pottery Pig, China (2029BKE) $395

    $395.00
    H: 2.5”  W: 4.5”  D: 2.375” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This glazed pig mingqi was one of many items made for a tomb to placate the spirit of the deceased and assure the soul’s access to the things enjoyed when alive. This animal mingqi confirms the importance of pigs as a food source and of raising livestock in Han China. An alert animal whose stocky body is typical, it’s dark lead green glaze and damp tomb created a chemical reaction over centuries making it a lustrous, iridescent green impossible to copy that is highly valued in China and by collectors. In very good condition, it has expected glaze losses, minor abrasions and cracks due to its age and long tomb burial.

  • Antique Ancestor Figure in Official’s Attire, China (16752) $2285

    $2,285.00
    H: 34″  W: 11.25″  D: 7.25″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    Although this wonderfully carved antique figure portrays an ancestor depicted as an official, his atypically benevolent and finely modeled face makes him a very endearing figure. Old and weathering from age in its rear, this piece was repainted probably in the 20th century, as was always periodically done with old figures with losses, here especially due to the seasonal South China climate. With his individualized convincing features, he is a very relatable rather than authoritarian figure, possibly resulting from the affection of the family that commissioned it.

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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 Standing Ancestor Official, China (18017ESK) $425

    $425.00
    Ht: 8.25″  W: 3″  D: 2.125″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    Dressed in a red robe with a high neck collar, extremely wide sleeves extending below the knees and a belt around his waist, this ancestor figure portrayed as a civilian official standing on a rectangular base with hands together wearing a long civil official’s robe that extends to his shoes but has no rank badge indicated.

  • Antique Mandarin Ancestor Figure, China (16479BLK) $395

    $395.00
    H: 11”  W: 5”  D: 3.375” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This ancestor figure is portrayed as a Mandarin civilian official indicating either his actual high rank or his family’s desire to depict him as one seated in a traditional official’s pose and dressed official Mandarin attire and high status boots. The three-character inscription on the pedestal seems to be a name 范 懋卿(Fan Mao Qing) that probably indicates his identity and/or the family who commissioned the image.

     

     

     

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

    $850.00
    H: 12.75”  W: 6.625”  D: 5.75” | FREE SHIPPING

    This masterfully carved ancestor as a mandarin official sits on horseshoe chair set on a footed high decorated plinth dressed in a well-appointed formal 3-button Mandarin long coat and pointed rattan hat. His face is uniquely and unusually individualized with heavy lidded eyes, in a benevolent expression and his advanced aged indicated by the wrinkles clearly depicting a loved individual. This exquisitely carved image in excellent condition with a fine patina was true homage to a revered family member and is one of our finest ancestor figures.

     

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

    $455.00
    Ht: 8.5″  W: 4″  D: 3.375″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    This small fine quality piece depicts a modest ancestor figure as a Mandarin official seated in a horseshoe chair on a raised pedestal emphasizing his importance wearing the traditional mandarin 5-button long coat with a round collar, a plain officials hat, and an undergarment extending to the top of his black shoes. He has a somewhat personalized oval-shaped tranquil face, a high forehead with curved painted brows, a hint of a smile on his pursed lips, and a triangular pigtail down his back.

     

  • Antique Ming Attendant with Zodiac Animal, China (1155BCK) $395

    $395.00
    H: 7.375”  W: 2.75”  D: 2.5” | FREE SHIPPING!

    A group of 12 zodiac figures as mingqi sometimes accompanied the wealthy deceased in their tomb. This Ming dynasty earthenware figurine stands on a low circular base and wears an official’s hat and long flowing robes. It is difficult to identify the specific animal held here but it may be a rabbit, small dog or baby pig. The detailed figure is hollow and partially mould-made and unlike glazed mingqi, was covered with a white slip and painted using black and white pigments which are mostly extant.

  • Antique Ming Dynasty Earthenware Horseshoe Chair, China (3331BOK) $685

    $685.00
    H: 7.375″  W: 4.375″  D: 3.75″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    Often ancestral figures were portrayed sitting in horseshoe chairs to reflect the high status of the figure they were portraying. As many earthenware mingqi, this well-modeled chair has a liberally applied thick green glaze resulting in expected drips around the stretchers. The seat is decorated with a yellow glaze imitating caning and the decorative carved design on the splat also has a yellow glaze and a carved decorative “clocklike” circular design. The bottom of the seat and legs are not glazed, as is usual.  It is in very good condition with expected minor chips and minor glaze pitting and deterioration consistent with its age and long burial. It pairs perfectly with item 3330 and together would add to a fine collection of Chinese ceramics.

  • Antique Ming Earthenware Horseshoe Chair, China (3330BOK)

    $685.00
    H: 7.375″  W: 4.375″  D: 3.75″ | FREE SHIPPING

    This charming miniature Ming dynasty ceramic horseshoe pottery chair is an accurate model of an impressive Ming chair that would have been made of a beautifully grained hardwood and constructed with a continuous horseshoe shaped top rail and a caned seat. The curved splat of a wood chair might have either carved or pierced motifs or medallions and straight or curved stretchers joining the legs in pairs at the same height on each side. Often ancestral carved figures were portrayed sitting in horseshoe chairs to reflect the high status of the figure they were portraying. This ceramic mingqi has a thick green glaze throughout which was liberally applied normal usual drips around the stretchers. The seat is decorated with a yellow glaze in imitation of caning as is the decorative carved design on the splat, but the bottoms of both the seat and legs are unglazed. The rail ends splay to the right and left for hand comfort and decorative effect are traditionally found in Ming Dynasty hardwood horseshoe-shaped chairs. It is in very good condition with minor chips and paint losses and fading due to its being buried underground in a tomb for centuries. It would be a fine addition to a collection of antique ceramics.

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

    $875.00
    H: 15.5:  W: 6.125″  D: 4.125″ | free shipping!

    This fine ancestor figure portrayed as a Chinese official with many indications of his high status. He sits on a backless chair upon a high decorative pedestal upon which his feet rest and . He wears officials attire: a futou cap and high collared red robe with double belt extending to his shoes. He sits in a formal pose with hands on his thighs holding a long slender  hu tablet. His facial hairs indicate a mustache and beard, now partially lost, on his gilt colored face.

     

  • Antique Seated Ancestor Official, China (16289BME) $650

    $650.00
    H: 7.25”  W: 4.625”  D: 3.5” | FREE SHIPPING

    This finely carved ancestor wears official’s attire and hat and sits in a horseshoe chair with his feet on a pedestal to emphasize his power and status, although he appears to be a lovwer level civilian official.  It is masterfully carved and lacquered and is painted on front and back in red  with traces of gilt – all propitious colors of “fu” as a wish for wealth, health, good fortune, long life and long life – that has faded over it years of use into a great patina.

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