Shoulao (壽) is one of the most popular Chinese gods as he is the God of Longevity and his name is homophonous with the word for peaches, also a symbol of longevity. Longevity symbols are ubiquitous in Chinese art and everyday life, found within and outside dwellings, in paintings and prints, on textiles, clothing and jewelry among other items. Longevity was important to Confucians who believed wisdom comes with age and to Taoists who seek immortality. The most common symbols of longevity and the wish for a long life include butterflies, cats, coral, cranes, chrysanthemums, citron, deer, evergreens, fly whisk, lingzhi mushrooms, oxen, peaches, peonies, pine trees, rocks, roses, rabbits, storks, tigers and tortoises. The Taoist Queen Mother of the West and Amitabha Buddha are both associated with longevity. Lu Dongbin and his fly whisk, as well as the other seven Chinese Immortals and their personal identifying symbols are also longevity symbols.
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Shiwan stoneware fruit offerings were placed on the altar during the Ming to substitute for or augment fresh offerings. The three peaches and lotuses on a footed bowl are auspicious Chinese symbols associated with springtime, fertility and a long healthy life for many generations.
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.
Zhenwu (Perfected Warrior) is one of the most important and powerful Taoist deities, god of one of the 4 cardinal directions (the north) revered for his potent magical powers to suppress demonic forces. This provincial image for personal devotion and reflects his classic iconography: seated on a throne, bare feet resting on a snake and a tortoise, a celestial scarf and maille armor. Intricately carved he has a powerful presence.
This charming white porcelain cat teapot has a removable head, a long sinuous tail handle, and an opening at the end of its paw to serve tea. The hand painted design is whimsical and colorful featuring a thin ribbon-like gold collar and dangling ornamental bow and black accents and pink strokes that define the face, eyes, ears, head and paws.
This glazed white porcelain cat teapot with a raised paw, like most vessels in this genre, has a removable head, a long sinuous tail handle and a raised paw as a spout. The hand painted whimsical and colorful design includes a thin ribbon-like blue collar and an impressive dangling ornamental bow with black accents that define the face, ears, head and paws.
This colorful Chinese Republic porcelain is the most popular of the Eight Immortals Lu Dongbin, who symbolizes immortality and long life. Dressed as a scholar, his beard is pushed to the side as he is in motion riding waves to show his magical powers. He holds a fly whisk which, along with the sword he often carries, are personal auspicious symbols. The most colorful of the immortals, he is worshipped by for his medical prowess and by scholars in homes and temples.
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.
This charming white porcelain cat teapot with a raised paw has a removable head, a sinuous tail handle, a paw spout and a removable head . Beautifully hand-painted whimsical and colorful designs include a thin ribbon-like blue collar, an impressive dangling ornamental bow, and the black accents that define the face, ears, head and paws.
This charming white porcelain Siamese cat teapot has a raised paw for pouring tea, a removable head for adding water , and a long sinuous tail handle. The beautifully hand-painted design is whimsical and colorful with a thick dark red collar ribbon, a matching ornamental bow, and a ball under its left paw. Black, orange, red and blue accents define the cat’s face, ears, head, paws and the ball.
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 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.
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