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.

Showing 37–48 of 88 results

  • 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: $750.00.
    H: 15.375” W: 8.625” D: 7.5” | FOR a  SHIPPING quote CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030 or email [email protected]

    This Mazu, the protector of sea farers, is portrayed as the imperially sanctioned “Empress of Heaven” seated on an elaborate horseshoe shaped dragon throne, hands clasped symbolically holding a hu tablet, adorned with elegant dragon robes, an official’s girdle, a flat-topped Empress headdress and small feet resting on a pair of gilt fu lions. Meant to be seen from all sides this beautiful carving is decorated on front and back.

    Add to cartLoading Done
  • Sale! Antique Ming Songzi Guanyin, Bestower of Children, China #16057BAK

    Antique Ming Songzi Guanyin, Bestower of Children, China #16057BAK

    Original price was: $1,350.00.Current price is: $1,100.00.
    H: 11”  W: 5.75”  D: 5.125” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This very rare and fine 16th century home shrine image displays the benign and compassionate countenance of Songzi Guanyin the “Bestower of Children.”  With round face and joyful half-closed and eyes, she looks lovingly at the child whose arm is draped over hers.and leans slightly forward,  wearing a 5- lobed crown centered with a camellia flower a Chinese symbol of young sons and daughters. The inscription on the back dates the piece to 1521-1567

  • Sale! Antique Nanhai Guanyin of the Southern Seas, China #16555BCK

    Antique Nanhai Guanyin of the Southern Seas, China #16555BCK

    Original price was: $450.00.Current price is: $325.00.
    H: 11.75″  W:  5.25″    D: 4.75 ”  |  Free shipping within continental us

    This provincial Nanhai Guanyin sits with her palms at her heart in anjali mudra, a mudra of offering rarely used for Nanhai Guanyin. She sits on a two tiered lotus throne on a lotus at the entrance to her Tidal Cave  on Putuo  under a craggy rock outcrop framed by pierced openwork. Placed on a home altar, her modest presentation reflect local beliefs to resonate with provincial populations.  

  • Sale! Antique Nanhai Guanyin of the Southern Seas, China #19414BLK

    Antique Nanhai Guanyin of the Southern Seas, China #19414BLK

    Original price was: $750.00.Current price is: $500.00.
    H: 9.5 ”  D:  4.5″    |  FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This white hooded Nanhai Guanyin sits in her Cave o Mount Putuo below an arch of openwork draped moss and barbed rocks, a vial and parrot at her side, holding scrolls that represent the sutras with which she is associated. She sits in modified lalitsana atop an open lotus symbolizing purity and enlightenment surrounded by 2 closed lotuses symbolizing the potential for enlightenment.This rare provincial image was used for placement on a home altar.

  • Sale! Antique Nanhai Guanyin with Aureole and Acolytes, China #16428LMK

    Antique Nanhai Guanyin with Aureole and Acolytes, China #16428LMK

    Original price was: $720.00.Current price is: $595.00.
    H: 22.75″    W: 7.25″    D:  5″  |  CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING

    Carved from one piece of wood, this triad depicts Nanhai Guanyin and her two acolytes, Shan Tsai  (now lost to deterioration) and Longnü, the Dragon Princess holding the Precious Gem. As a Pure Land Buddhist carving, her crown is centered with Amitabha Buddha in meditation bordered by the flames of Buddhism. Despite its losses, this Ming/Qing carving retains its spiritual and serene charm

    Add to cartLoading Done
  • Sale! Antique Nanhai Guanyin with Vase and Parrot, China #16246XLOK

    Antique Nanhai Guanyin with Vase and Parrot, China #16246XLOK

    Original price was: $1,450.00.Current price is: $1,100.00.
    H: 15.5″ W: 6″ D: 5.25″ | CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL VANISHINGARTS213@GMAIL/COM for shipping information

    In this elegant and vibrant carving Guanyin sits in meditation. her beautiful, serene face elegantly carved in contemplation withbud-shaped lips softly set in a welcoming and benign sweet smile wearing a five-lobed crown. She sits on an open lotus with a vertical post at her sides; her sacred vial on her right and a parrot on the left. Antique carved i Guanyin statues with her symbols in this condition are quite wonderful and rare and impart a feeling of serenity to the environment around them.

    Add to cartLoading Done
  • Sale! Antique Official Holding His Belt of Office, China, 18th Century, #16470BKE

    Antique Official Holding His Belt of Office, China, 18th Century, #16470BKE

    Original price was: $535.00.Current price is: $395.00.
    H: 10.3″ W: 6″ D: 3.5″ | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL US!

    This  ancestor statue emphasizes his status as an official. official’s pose holding us his belt of office, official’s hat and boots, worn only by those who could afford them. high on his forehead which also represents his officialdom, as the word “hat” (guan) is a homophone of the word “official.” The inscriptions on the back of the chair which are too faded to read indicate it was consecrated and probably were a dedication from the family who commissioned  it to placed on the home altar.

  • 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.

  • Antique Official Showing His Belt of Office (19047LHE) SPECIAL PRICE

    Antique Official Showing His Belt of Office (19047LHE) SPECIAL PRICE

    $985.00
    H: 15″ W: 6.5″ D: 5.5″  | EMAIL [email protected] OR CALL 213-568-3030 FOR SHIPPING COST

    This excellently carved civilian official with gilt highlights was commissioned by a family to place on a home altar for veneration and to impress those who viewed it. The imposing ancestor figure grasps his belt of office to show his pride in passing examinations to become a civil official, which leads to a life of rank and prosperity for him and his family. Statues like this are an affirmation of persistence, success, status and power and they honor those who display these characteristics.

    Add to cartLoading Done

End of content

End of content