Home Altar

In many world religions, home altars are spiritual tables on which sacred images, symbols or texts are placed and honored with offerings made for venerating deities and/or ancestors by family members that generally include light from candles or lamps, incense, flowers, food, and water. In Buddhism, home altars are physical spaces that support spiritual practice, encourage devotees to attain enlightenment and show gratitude to the Buddha for showing the way to enlightenment. Buddha and Buddhist deity statues and other spiritual symbols remind devotees of the qualities of Buddha’s wisdom and compassion and serve to inspire devotees to develop these qualities as they recall Buddha’s teachings.

Chinese Taoist and Popular Religion family home altars or shrines (Kam or Kung) honor ancestors, attract blessings and avert malevolent forces and influences. Ancestor worship is a family affair to communicate with and provide greetings and support to the deceased, engage in prayer, display filial piety and make offerings to ancestor statues and/or tablets. Taoist, Popular Religion and Buddhist deities maybe placed along with images of Taoist and Buddhist priests, deified local heroes and legends. Home altar statues are blessed in an eye-opening consecration ceremony performed by a Taoist or Buddhist priest or monk to imbue with them with chi and give them life. Offerings of candles, incense and foods are placed to attract blessings of fu which they augmented by placing furniture in certain locations and using propitious colors (red and gold attracts the most fu).

In Hinduism, the home altar is the most important part of a household where all family actions and decisions are made, special events are celebrated, and members gather to perform daily prayers (puja) to show reverence and devotion through prayer, supplication, songs, ceremonial worship and rituals. Hindu statues, images of deities who protect the family and engender good fortune, are placed there along with other ritual items of devotion.

Home altars are now viewed as spiritual, and often meditational spaces to celebrate one’s family. Along with spiritual icons or statues, they include photos of loved ones, well-loved mementos or trinkets, hand-written notes, or letters. Additional spiritual elements include candles, crystals, or incense.

  • 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.

  • Antique Dhokra  Brass Measuring Bowl, India (9500A-WAH)

    Antique Dhokra Brass Measuring Bowl, India (9500A-WAH)

    $155.00
    H: 3.875” Dia: 3.875” | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This antique brass vessel was a daily measuring bowl for rice or other grains made by Dhokra metalsmiths from Eastern India using the same lost wax casting process for millennia. Extremely labor intensive and time consuming, each piece is one-of-a-kind. Dhokra items are beautifully and intricately decorated with simple uncomplicated forms. This charming piece is a typical grain measure and has a handle for hanging and decorated with horizontal striations across the top and bordered by downward striated triangles with a smooth patina from age and use. This bowl were regarded as a symbol of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi and was prized by villagers who could afford them for puja home worship and placed on a home altar.

    Click here for the Blog Dhokra Metal Smiths: Retaining Primitive Techniques with Unfailing Success 

    Click here for the Blog Hindu Home and Temple Shrines and Religious Practices

     

  • Antique Dhokra Brass Measuring Bowl, India (9500D-JAH) $155

    Antique Dhokra Brass Measuring Bowl, India (9500D-JAH) $155

    $155.00
    H: 3.5” Dia: 3.75” | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This antique brass vessel was a daily measuring bowl for rice or other grains made by Dhokra metal smiths from Eastern India using the same lost wax casting process for over 4000 years. Extremely labor intensive and time consuming, each piece is one-of-a-kind. Dhokra items are beautifully and intricately decorated with simple uncomplicated forms.  This charming piece has a handle for hanging with horizontal striations and downward striated triangles with a smooth patina from age and use. This type of bowl was regarded as a symbol of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi and was prized by villagers who could afford them for puja home worship and placed on a home altar.

  • Antique Dhokra Brass Measuring Bowl, India (9500E-NAH)

    Antique Dhokra Brass Measuring Bowl, India (9500E-NAH)

    $155.00
    H: 3.875” Dia: 4.125” | FREE SHIPPING IN CNTINENTAL U.S.!

    This antique brass vessel was a daily measuring bowl for rice or other grains made by Dhokra metal smiths from Eastern India using the same lost wax casting process for over 4000 years. Extremely labor intensive and time consuming, each piece is one-of-a-kind. Dhokra items are beautifully and intricately decorated with simple uncomplicated forms.  This charming piece has a handle for hanging with horizontal striations and downward striated triangles with a smooth patina from age and use. This type of bowl was regarded as a symbol of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi and was prized by villagers who could afford them for puja home worship and placed on a home altar.

     

  • Antique Dhokra Brass Rice/Grain Measuring Bowl, India (9500B-VAH) $155

    Antique Dhokra Brass Rice/Grain Measuring Bowl, India (9500B-VAH) $155

    $155.00
    H: 4.25” Dia: 4” | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This antique brass vessel was a daily measuring bowl for rice or other grains made by Dhokra metal smiths from Eastern India using the same lost wax casting process for over 4000 years. Extremely labor intensive and time consuming, each piece is one-of-a-kind. Dhokra items are beautifully and intricately decorated with simple  uncomplicated forms.  This charming piece has handle for hanging with horizontal striations and downward striated triangles with a smooth patina from  age and use. This type of bowl was regarded as a symbol of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi and was prized by villagers who could afford them for puja home worship and placed on a home altar.

  • Antique Dhorka Brass Measuring Bowl, India (9500C-VAH) $155

    Antique Dhorka Brass Measuring Bowl, India (9500C-VAH) $155

    $155.00
    H: 3.75” Dia: 3.75” | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This antique brass vessel was a daily measuring bowl for rice or other grains made by Dhokra metal smiths from Eastern India using the same lost wax casting process for over 4000 years. Extremely labor intensive and time consuming, each piece is one-of-a-kind. Dhokra items are beautifully and intricately decorated with simple uncomplicated forms.  This charming piece has a handle for hanging with horizontal striations and downward striated triangles with a smooth patina from age and use. This type of bowl was regarded as a symbol of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi and was prized by villagers who could afford them for puja home worship and placed on a home altar.

  • Antique Female Attendant with Offerings, China (19035BKE) SPECIAL PRICE

    Antique Female Attendant with Offerings, China (19035BKE) SPECIAL PRICE

    $595.00

    Statues of attendants often appear as a pair looking inward and flanking a deity, unless they are very important ones and look straight ahead. They may carry a range of offerings. This antique Chinese woodcarving appears to be a Taoist image likely placed on a home altar along with deities, house gods and ancestors to…

  • Sale! Antique God of Wealth Caishen, China (19313)

    Antique God of Wealth Caishen, China (19313)

    Original price was: $745.00.Current price is: $425.00.
    H: 10.25” W: 4.75” D: 3.625” | FREE SHIPPING WITHin Continental U.S.

    Taoist God of Wealth (Caishen) portrayed as benevolent authoritative figure associated with wealth: holds tael, robe with coin decorations, painted with red and gold.

  • Sale! Antique Wood Guanyin in Meditation, China #16955BME

    Antique Wood Guanyin in Meditation, China #16955BME

    Original price was: $425.00.Current price is: $300.00.
    H:9.75″    W: 5.6″    D: 3.75″   |  FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.

    Consecrated red lacquer and gilt home altar provincial Guanyin, elaborate 5-lobed crown centered with radiating bars symbolizing Amitabha Buddha and his aureole that represent the flames of Buddhism.

  • Sale! Antique Guanyin in Royal Ease (Lalitsana), China, #16910BOE

    Antique Guanyin in Royal Ease (Lalitsana), China, #16910BOE

    Original price was: $525.00.Current price is: $450.00.
    H: 10.75″   W: 5.5″   D:  4.5″   |    FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL U.S.

    White Clad Guanyin in royal ease and karana mudra to expel evil, remove problems and rid sickness or other negativities rarely used for Guanyin. Consecrated for home altar use.

  • Sale! Antique Guanyin on Elaborate Throne, China (19536)

    Antique Guanyin on Elaborate Throne, China (19536)

    Original price was: $695.00.Current price is: $495.00.
    H: 14.5” W: 5.5” D: 4.25”    |    FREE SHIPPING within continental u.s.

    Guanyin’s elegance, compassion and serenity are emphasized in this provincial carving on 3 tiered high lotus throne on a hexagonal base with carved patterns. Portrayed in meditation with flowing robes this consecrated image was designed for personal veneration in a home setting.

  • Sale! Antique Guanyin with Amitabha in Crown, China (16380)

    Antique Guanyin with Amitabha in Crown, China (16380)

    Original price was: $1,300.00.Current price is: $750.00.
    H: 13.75”  W: 7”  D: 4.5”    |    CALL 213-568-3030 or email [email protected] for shipping

    Delicately detailed and consecrated Guanyin in meditation on a backless throne, flowing braids, simple necklace, 3-part crown centered with Amitabha Buddha on lotus throne surrounded by a radiating aureole. Compassionate downcast eyes, serene contemplative expression, calm smile to enhance any surrounding.

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