Fu

The Chinese word fu (福) is translated as happiness, blessings and good fortune and the wish for fu is represented by well recognized symbols is ubiquitous in all aspects of Chinese life displayed in architecture, furniture, functional and utilitarian objects, porcelains and pottery, textiles, clothing, jewelry and other decorative accessories. Red is the color of fu which is also complemented and enhanced by gilt. The character fu is auspicious, as are their homophones and rebuses. A bat (fu 蝠) is a homophone for “good fortune” or “happiness” as its tone is very similar to the tone to for fu (福) As they are homophones, the bat is a symbol and also a visual pun (rebus) for good luck, often found in colored red. When the character for fu (福) or the representation of a bat are upside-down, it signifies that ‘good fortune has arrived’ since the word for ‘arrive in Chinese sounds like the word fo ‘upside-down., another Chinese homophone. Five bats represent the Five Blessings or Happinesses .

Showing 25–36 of 39 results

  • Sale!

    Antique Shiwan Stoneware Wall Pocket Chopsticks Holder, China (16031A TLK) $115

    Original price was: $115.00.Current price is: $97.75.
    H:  6.75″ W: 4.875″ D: 2.5″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.

    Decorative every day Shiwan ware pieces are recognized for their fine craftsmanship, vivid expression, and colorful apple-green and drip glazes. Shiwan potters mixed waste materials with local and inexpensive clay – one of the earliest artistic forms of recycling. Shiwan chopsticks holders are unique kitchen accessories, especially as wedding gifts.

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    Antique Stone Fu Lion, China (16394JLM)

    Original price was: $195.00.Current price is: $165.75.
    H: 4.5″  Dia: 3.25″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This hand carved antique stone flu lion is a fun loving benevolent creature as seen in his open mouth with sharp teeth in a fanciful grin with a curled tongue, mischievously twinkling eyes under bushy eyebrows and a compressed rotund body with a very small tail. This is not your refined portrait of an elegant protective beast, it’s just a friendly pet hanging out . He probably lived in the garden of a provincial fun-loving family and is looking for a similar environment where people like old wonderful pieces to remind them not to take themselves too seriously.

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    Antique Stoneware Fruit Offering, Shiwan, China (19330-BLE) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $375.00.Current price is: $325.00.
    H: 8.75″  DIA: 6.75 ” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This delicate and vibrant Qing dynasty Shiwan stoneware glazed sculpture represents fresh fruit that symbolizes life and new beginnings would have been placed on a temple or home altar to represent and/or augment plates of stacked fresh fruit. Fresh fruit symbolizes life and new beginnings. These offerings are still made to honor the family’s ancestors, communicate with deities and bring prosperity, good luck and health to the home and would be an auspicious and decorative addition to any home settings where family members past and present are  honored.

  • Sale!

    Antique Stoneware Wall Pocket Chopsticks Holder, Shiwan, China (16966B-PAL) $115

    Original price was: $115.00.Current price is: $97.75.
    H: 7.375″ W: 5.125″ D: 2.5″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    Decorative utilitarian Shiwan ware 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.” It can hold utensils, dried flowers, and other objects and is a unique wedding gift.

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    Antique Taoist Official with the Elixir of Life (16312BOK) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $450.00.Current price is: $276.25.
    Ht: 9″ W: 5″ D: 3.5″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    During the Ming and Qing dynasties small images of Taoist officials and priests were often shown holding a cup of the elixir of life to place on home altars along with ancestor figures, house gods and other religious images to bring blessings (fu) to the household. By commissioning  figures like this artful carving, families honored their ancestors and met their filial piety duties. Mounted on an acrylic stand.

     

  • Sale!

    Antique Taoist Priest with Elixir of Life in Cup, China (14018XCK) $295

    Original price was: $295.00.Current price is: $250.75.
    H: 7.25” W: 2.75” D: 2” | FREE SHIPPING within continental u.s.!

    Taoist priests like this were placed on home altars to bring wishes of fu – a virtuous, prosperous and long life into the home in which they were placed. This vibrant antique figure holds a ritual cup symbolically containing the elixir of life. The open back cavity reveals the slip that was placed there during a consecration ceremony by a Taoist priest.

     

  • Sale!

    Antique Two Sided Sweetmeat Confection-Mold, China (3562BLE) $425

    Original price was: $425.00.Current price is: $361.25.
    H: 15.125″  W: 14.875  D: 1.25″

    This beautiful intricately hand carved, decorated and red lacquered confection-mold with carved indentations on both sides was probably an wedding gift for a wealthy family filled with auspicious symbols –  5-petal plum blossoms with vines and seeds are wishes for good fortune, prosperity, long life and many sons.  IT would make a unique wedding gift for a lucky couple.

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    Antique White Robed Guanyin on a Hǒu, China(16963BKE) $795

    Original price was: $725.00.Current price is: $675.00.
    H: 15.125”  W: 6”  D: 5” | FREE SHIPPING within Continental U.S.!

    This charming rare White Robed Guanyin sits on a Hǒu, the mythical guardian beast that symbolizes righteousness and morality and the mandate to usher in peace and prosperity. Although generally beast, this Hǒu is a gentle Buddhist creature curled around Guanyin’s side as she in lalitsana clasping a rosary. This fine and rare provincial folk version of Guanyin is a small yet powerful carving, mounted on a frosted Acrylic base.

     

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    Antique Wood Kitchen God and His Wife, China (19028LAK) $995

    Original price was: $995.00.Current price is: $845.75.
    H: 10” W: 7.75” D: 8.25” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.

    This single statue portrays the Kitchen God and his Wife on one stand which is rare and indicates their close and lasting relationship as the protectors of the home and family. The Kitchen God and his wife were placed above the stove, a central part of the household to view and report about the morality of the family members to the Jade Emperor at Chinese New Year and have their fate determined for the coming year. His serene face has an uncharacteristic smile. Their bright colors have faded naturally into a smooth warm patina which adds comfort and positive feng sui to any kitchen decor.

     

     

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    Antique/Vintage Kitchen God and His Wife, China (16850BME) $625

    Original price was: $625.00.Current price is: $531.25.
    H: 8.25″  W: 3.125″  D: 2.25″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    This Kitchen God and his Wife is posed as streamlined virtual mirror-images and fashioned with a general quality relying on paint rather than deep carving for details. They sit on backless chairs on a plinth, with simplified gold officials’ robes with long color sashes, and well-carved black and gilt head gear. The wife’s face is smooth, generalized and the male face has a more deeply carved surface and painted highlights.

     

  • Sale!

    Antique/Vintage Sweetmeats Confection-Mold, China (19434DRK) $425

    Original price was: $425.00.Current price is: $361.25.
    H: 16.5″ W: 10.5″ D: 2.25″ CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING QUOTE

    This finely detailed hardwood mold was used to make sweetmeats confections, perhaps mooncakes for the Chinese Autumn Moon Festival. It is covered with deeply carved propitious symbols for marital harmony, sons and successful endeavors:  a four clawed dragon for fertility, two ducks symbolizing marital bliss and harmony, one atop a carp for conjugal bliss and achieving noble rank and a boat with a sail for making all this easy sailing. This would be a great accessory or gift (especially for weddings) to spice up any kitchen.

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    Brick Tile of Couple Feasting and Figure Pointing to Flying Bat, China (3349BLE) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $465.00.Current price is: $375.00.

    This late Song dynasty earthenware ceramic brick tile portrays a couple sitting behind a banquet table with foods placed in front of them. On the right are two figures, one of whom points to a stylized image of a bat flying in the sky.

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