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 Guanyin with Crown in Meditation, China (16467)

    Antique Guanyin with Crown in Meditation, China (16467)

    Original price was: $535.00.Current price is: $395.00.
    Ht: 10.5”  W: 5.5”  D: 4” | FREE SHIPPING in continental u.s.

    Guanyin in lacquer and gilt sits on a lotus throne in meditation atop a decorative footed stand, regally depicted with elegantly draped robes and a 5-lobe crown with a cross hatch design. Consecrated for home altar use.

  • Sale! Antique Guanyin with Lobed Crown, China #16151LME

    Antique Guanyin with Lobed Crown, China #16151LME

    Original price was: $475.00.Current price is: $295.00.
    H: 11.6 ”    W: 5.3 ”    D: 4.25 ”      |     FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.

    This provincial Guanyin made for a home altar sits in anjali mudra. Portrayed as humble, approachable, she wears a 5-lobed diadem, hair in a chignon with braids and modest robe seated on a waisted lotus throne with stacked lotuses.

  • Antique Hindu Garuda Prayer Bell, India (9545XLC) $295

    Antique Hindu Garuda Prayer Bell, India (9545XLC) $295

    $295.00
    H: 10”  Dia: 3.75” | FREE SHIPPING within Continental U.S.!

    This Hindu prayer bell was likely placed on a home or temple altar and used in daily puja rituals. It has a smooth and undecorated body with only incised parallel rings circling plain surfaces and is topped by a Garuda pair sheltered by Naga hoods. Garuda, Vishnu’s mythical winged bird  mount, and Naga, a seven-headed hooded serpent, are natural enemies but when they are represented together, they symbolizes  peace, a very appropriate adornment for the tranquility and serenity elicited by the pleasing sounds of a prayer bell.

  • Sale! Antique Hindu Peacock Oil Lamp, H: 13" India (9526)

    Antique Hindu Peacock Oil Lamp, H: 13″ India (9526)

    Original price was: $365.00.Current price is: $325.00.
    H: 13″    W:  8.5″     D: 4.75″    |  CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING.

    Graceful peacock oil lamp for Hindu ritual home altar prayers signifying purity, virtuosity, goodness, good luck. Large peacock is reservoir for oil, smaller peacock the lamp’s lid.  Peacocks symbolize love, joy, peace and harmony.

  • Sale! Antique Home Altar Mazu, China (19013)

    Antique Home Altar Mazu, China (19013)

    Original price was: $425.00.Current price is: $225.00.
    H: 9” W: 6.525” D: 2.5     |     FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.

    Small consecrated home altar provincial Mazu, finely carved on armless back chair dressed modestly in peasant robes with a phoenix in her hat, she is motherly figure who protects her devotees as her children.

  • Antique Home Altar Queen Mother of the West,  China (16035TSK) $395

    Antique Home Altar Queen Mother of the West, China (16035TSK) $395

    $395.00
    H:  12.5″  W: 4.8″      |  3.3″     FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.

    Small mage of Queen Mother carved by provisional artisan depicts her as humble and matronly with iconic phoenix on headdress for placement on a home altar.  Cavity with original sealed bung indicates it was consecrated.

  • Sale! Antique Home Altar with Panel of Guanyin on Hǒu, China (19433)

    Antique Home Altar with Panel of Guanyin on Hǒu, China (19433)

    Original price was: $585.00.Current price is: $395.00.
    H: 9″  W: 18.5″  D:5.8″    |     CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING.

    Small table probably was in young couple’s bedroom as a wish for a prosperity, health, and many sons. Panels with Guanyin on a hǒu holding lotuses and rats with melons as fertility symbols. Perfect personal home altar or wedding gift.

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  • Sale! Antique Lacquer and Gilt Straits Chinese (Peranakan) Shrine Cabinet, China #3986BKE

    Antique Lacquer and Gilt Straits Chinese (Peranakan) Shrine Cabinet, China #3986BKE

    Original price was: $595.00.Current price is: $425.00.
    H: 16.375″ W: 13.625″ D: 5.75″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030 or [email protected]

    This intricately carved black and heavily gilt antique cabinet is a fine example of a Straits Chinese furniture made in Guangdong for the Southeast Asia market.  Carved openwork panels with phoenixes and lotuses are symbolic wishes for harmony, blessings, rank, good fortune; outstretched wings wish for harmonious marriage, many sons and the inside decoration a wish for status and successful career. Although flamboyant for todays taste, it is a unique accent piece and gift for newly weds.

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  • Sale! Antique Mandarin Ancestor In Horseshoe Chair, China #19054BOK

    Antique Mandarin Ancestor In Horseshoe Chair, China #19054BOK

    Original price was: $850.00.Current price is: $695.00.
    H: 12.75” W: 6.625” D: 5.75” | FREE SHIPPING within Continental u.s.

    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.

  • Sale! Antique Mandarin Ancestor on Horseshoe Chair, China #18061BEM

    Antique Mandarin Ancestor on Horseshoe Chair, China #18061BEM

    Original price was: $455.00.Current price is: $295.00.
    H:8.5 ”    W: 4 ”    D: 3.3 ”    |  FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    Portrayed as an official, this ancestor figure sits on a horseshoe chair showing his status wearing compulsory officials attire:  a 5-button Mandarin long coat with a round collar and official headwear – a woven hat whose shape and color reflected his rank. His personalized  personalized oval-shaped is tranquil with a hint of a smile on his pursed lips, and a triangular pigtail down his back.

  • Antique Mandarin Official Ancestor Figure, China (16433JSK) $595

    Antique Mandarin Official Ancestor Figure, China (16433JSK) $595

    $595.00

    During the Qing Dynasty, reverence for Mandarin officials and their associated high status with it was so significant that families sought to perpetuate this image through the generations in carved and painted renderings of their ancestors. Ancestor-figures were the highest form of filial piety, and ancestor-worship was a cornerstone of Confucianism. Stuart (p. 82) states…

  • Sale! Antique Mazu Empress of Heaven in Horseshoe Chair, China  (6003)

    Antique Mazu Empress of Heaven in Horseshoe Chair, China (6003)

    Original price was: $1,050.00.Current price is: $650.00.
    H: 15.375” W: 8.625” D: 7.5” | CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030 or email [email protected] for SHIPPING.

    Mazu, protector of sea, is portrayed as the imperially sanctioned “Empress of Heaven” on an elaborate, horseshoe shaped dragon throne, holding a hu tablet, with elegant dragon robes, official’s girdle, Empress headdress and small feet on gilt fu lion foot rest.

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