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This small antique-Chinese-wood-carving represents Mazu, which translates as “Mother Ancestor,” the tutelary deity “Protector of the Sea” who protects seafarers and is very popular among Taiwanese, Fujianese, and Cantonese sea cultures. This syncretic cult figure is the most imortant ofthe female Taoist-Deities and continues to be worshipped by Taoist, Buddhist and Popular Religion followers. In…
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…
Often ancestral figures were portrayed sitting in horseshoe chairs to reflect their high status. As many earthenware mingqi, this well-modeled chair has a liberally applied green glaze resulting in expected drips around the stretchers. The seat is decorated with a yellow glaze imitating caning and the decorative carved design on the splat also has a green glaze and a carved decorative “clocklike” circular design. The bottom of the seat and legs are not usually glazed. In very good condition with expected minor chips and minor glaze deterioration consistent with its age and long burial, it pairs perfectly with item 3330 and together would add to a fine collection of Chinese ceramics or brighten up a small space.
This finely carved ancestor wears official’s attire and hat and sits in a horseshoe chair with his feet on a pedestal to emphasize his power and status, although he appears to be a lovwer level civilian official. It is masterfully carved and lacquered and is painted on front and back in red with traces of gilt – all propitious colors of “fu” as a wish for wealth, health, good fortune, long life and long life – that has faded over it years of use into a great patina.
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