Five Blessings or Happinesses

The Chinese word fu translates as ‘blessing” or “happiness” and is everything auspicious. The Five Blessings or Happinesses (wufu) is the Chinese ideal life that includes longevity (寿), wealth (富), health (康宁), a love of virtue (修好德), and a peaceful death in old age (考 终命). Although marital happiness and producing a male to carry on the family name are also considered important blessings, they are not part of fu. The five (wu) wishes for blessings (fu) may also be represented by five bats (wufu) that is a Chinese homophone with fu as are plum blossoms as they have five petals seen as a symbol of the Five Blessings. Five bats represent good luck and are also a symbol of the Five Blessings or Happinesses.

  • Sale! Antique Carved Box with Auspicious Symbols, China #11325B-GHL

    Antique Carved Box with Auspicious Symbols, China #11325B-GHL

    Original price was: $325.00.Current price is: $285.00.
    H: 6.375″ W: 10.75″ D: 7.125″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This charming carved and lacquered multi-use box opens from the top and has a side drawer with a metal pull. It is decorated with auspicious carved symbols for a good, healthy, prosperous and long life  Carved fu lion heads with flowing manes adorn the front and plum blossoms and a fan the front and frame.  Painted calligraphic phrases refer to a wish for many sons. It was likely a wedding gift to newlyweds and still for that or other purpose.

  • Sale! Antique Carved Standing Ancestor Official, China (18017)

    Antique Carved Standing Ancestor Official, China (18017)

    Original price was: $425.00.Current price is: $250.00.
    Ht: 8.25″  W: 3″  D: 2.125″ | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL US

    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.

  • Sale! Antique Carved Sweetmeat Confection Mold, China #3214A

    Antique Carved Sweetmeat Confection Mold, China #3214A

    Original price was: $475.00.Current price is: $325.00.
    H: 5.625″ W: 27.875″ D: 9.75″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected]

    This exceptionally crafted and beautiful footed confection mould was most probably a marriage gift from a wealthy family to the newlyweds as seen its symbolisms.  It is elaborated and ornately decorated in vibrant reds and gilt with auspicious symbols for fidelity, fertility and happiness with lotuses and pods filled with seeds, bats, paired fish and intertwined vines  representing a life pair, having sons, and other marriage wishes.

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  • Sale! Antique Civilian Official Ancestor Figure, China #16848BEM

    Antique Civilian Official Ancestor Figure, China #16848BEM

    Original price was: $395.00.Current price is: $275.00.
    H: 13.75″ W: 5.25″ D: 4″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This ancestor figure, carved in boxwood the preferred wood softwood during the Qing Dynasty, is portrayed in the characteristic pose of a Chinese civilian official, grasping his official’s belt with his right hand to demonstrate his important stature – which was really not so important for this gentleman, given his humble seating furniture and his modest attire. His right hand rests on the his knee as he sits erect on a thick low-back pedestal. Unlike many officials who are serious, this one is more approachable, with simple deeply carved smiling features, high arching brows and a black painted mustache and beard.

  • Sale! Antique Jewelry Box with Auspicious Symbols, China (16782)

    Antique Jewelry Box with Auspicious Symbols, China (16782)

    Original price was: $385.00.Current price is: $325.00.
    Ht: 8.5”  W: 15”  D: 9”  |  CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING COST

    Given the auspicious images on this finely crafted red and gilt jewelry box -a lotus and 5 bats surrounding a longevity roundel, it was probably a wedding gift for a fortunate couple as a wish for longevity, fertility, harmony and many and sons.

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  • Sale! Antique Ladies Vanity Cabinet with Elaborate Carving (16442)

    Antique Ladies Vanity Cabinet with Elaborate Carving (16442)

    Original price was: $695.00.Current price is: $495.00.
    Ht: 20.75” W: 19.125” D: 11” |CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING COST

    Fine ladies vanity cabinet covered with red lacquer and gold highlights. Parents’ gift to newlyweds with auspicious symbols for happiness, long life and having sons reflecting Confucian belief that producing sons to carry on the family name is essential to happiness.

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  • Sale! Antique Low Lacquered Wood Table, China (16005)

    Antique Low Lacquered Wood Table, China (16005)

    Original price was: $595.00.Current price is: $375.00.
    H: 5.625″ W: 27.875″ D: 9.75″ | CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING

    Charming antique low profile lacquered finished chest adds warmth to any setting. Drawers with carved auspicious symbols for the Five Happinesses include peonies, vines, butterflies, plum blossom and a Japanese lily. Inset panel with florals and decorative apron and brass butterfly handles.

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  • Sale! Antique Miniature Gilt Cabinet with Side Carving, China (19223)

    Antique Miniature Gilt Cabinet with Side Carving, China (19223)

    Original price was: $435.00.Current price is: $375.00.
    Ht: 15.25″   W: 11″   D: 4.875″  |  CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING

    Parents often gave small red and gold carved cabinets as wedding gifts as a wish for the young couple to have many sons.  The peony is a metaphor for female beauty and fertility, a willow represents spring – season of youth, new beginnings, optimism and fertility.

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  • Sale! Antique Official in Red Robes with a Hu Tablet, China #16851BOK

    Antique Official in Red Robes with a Hu Tablet, China #16851BOK

    Original price was: $875.00.Current price is: $475.00.
    H:  15.5″    W: 6.125 ” 4.125   D:  ”    |  FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This carved ancestor figure portrayed as an official sits on a backless chair with a decorative pedestal in official’s attire: a high collared red robe, double belt above and below his ample stomach and holding a long slender curved hu-tablet,  all signs of his office and status. He is vibrantly painted in red, the color of fu, as a wish for prosperity and status.

  • Sale! Antique Pair Double Happiness Oil Lamps, China (16915)

    Antique Pair Double Happiness Oil Lamps, China (16915)

    Original price was: $295.00.Current price is: $165.00.
    H:9.25  ”    W: 5.25 ”    D: 3.5 ”    | CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING.

    Pair of oil lamps for good fortune with diamond shaped double lozenge meaning many treasures, and plum blossoms, symboling  the Five Happinesses – wealth, health, longevity, peaceful death and love of virtue.

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  • Sale! Antique Shiwan Offering Bowl, Peaches and Lotuses, Shiwan, China  (19330)

    Antique Shiwan Offering Bowl, Peaches and Lotuses, Shiwan, China (19330)

    Original price was: $450.00.Current price is: $295.00.
    Ht: 5.5”  Dia: 6” |  FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.

    Shiwan stoneware peaches and lotuses on footed bowl auspicious symbols associated with springtime, fertility, long healthy life for many generations and therefore are propitious gifts for birthdays, especially for the elderly.

  • Sale! Antique Shiwan Stoneware Fruit Offering, China (19330)

    Antique Shiwan Stoneware Fruit Offering, China (19330)

    Original price was: $375.00.Current price is: $295.00.
    H: 8.75″  DIA: 6.75 ” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    Shiwan stoneware glazed sculptures of fruit symbolizing life and new beginnings to place on temple or home altar. They   augment plates of fresh stacked fresh fruit to honor ancestors. These pears symbolize long life.

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