We have indicated several items as “Gifts” since that was their original intent when they were created. The Chinese often presented marriage gifts with symbols of fidelity, marital harmony and, most often, fertility and a wish for many male children. Other gift items are uniquely suited for specific purposes such as house warming items or objects that reflect specific interest or passions.
Showing 25–36 of 42 results
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.
Wall pockets remain a very common decorative element in Asian homes. In China, they are used to hold chopsticks and flowers to bring good fortune to a space where the family gathers. This Shiwan stoneware pocket has 2 very auspicious symbols: a frog and a lotus that symbolize nurturing energy and transformation. With a hole in the back for hanging on a wall, it is great addition to enhance a kitchen’s coziness and feng shui and a wonderful wedding gift.
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.
This intricately hand carved gold and silver platter with indentations on both sides was used to make confections called sweetmeats eaten at festivals, holidays, and other key celebrations. The round molds symbolize the moon and cohesion of the family. The 5-petal plum blossoms attached to vines symbolize purity and endurance, as well as the coming of spring, renewal, and longevity. The multiple seeds are a wish for fertility and sons, and thus this mold may have been a holiday and/or marriage gift to a young couple.
These carvings of the Taoist-Deities Tudi Gong and his wife Tudi Po are from rural Southern China where they were frequently depicted together as house-gods on a home altar or local temple for farmers to pray to for abundant harvests and success in selling their products. Although Tudi Gong is a low ranking deity, he…
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.
Antique porcelain cat teapot, removable head, tail handle, and spout paw. Hand painted design defines features with ribbon-like gold collar and dangling ornamental bow symbolizing long life. Great gift, recommended for decorative use only.
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.
This charming vintage porcelain cat teapot with raised paw for pouring tea, removable head and a sinuous tail handle is whimsical and colorful with a red ribbon collar, green bow and green, black and red accents defining the expressive face, ears, head and paws, all beautifully hand-painted. Manufactures seal on bottom.
This charming vintage porcelain cat teapot with raised paw for pouring tea, removable head and a sinuous tail handle is whimsical and colorful with a red ribbon collar, green bow and green, black and red accents defining the expressive face, ears, head and paws, all beautifully hand-painted.
This porcelain teapot is a rotund cat figurine comically sitting on a mouse. It has a raised paw spout, a removable head and a long sinuous tail handle. The whimsical and colorful design with long ribbon and blue collar with a dangling blue bow and the black, pink, and brown accents that define the face, ears, head, paws and body and all are hand painted.
This charming porcelain a cat teapot with a raised paw has a removable head to pour liquid into the vessel and a long sinuous tail handle for pouring liquid from the opening at the end of the paw. The design is whimsical and colorful with a thin green ribbon collar and an impressive dangling ornamental bow with black accents defining the face, ears and head.
End of content
End of content