Mythical Animals

In Asian cultures, mythical animals fulfill cultural, spiritual and practical functions as motifs in art and in spiritual, decorative and utilitarian items such as architecture, furniture, textiles, jewelry, decorative items, musical instruments and ceramics. Their origin reflects legends, myths and religious and animistic beliefs and they are often associated with deities. They often symbolize spiritual goals, good fortune and averting evil. Common mythical beasts are Buddhist or fu lions, dragons, nagas, bats, birds, Hǒus, oxen/bulls, taotie, and combination of animal and human forms.

Showing 1–12 of 44 results

  • Antique Agricultural Deity and Spring Ox, China (16337LKE) $885

    $885.00
    H: 14.25”  W: 7.125”  D: 4.875” | CALL 213-568-3030 FOR SHIPPING

    To pay homage and respect to one’s ancestors, Chinese rural families commissioned images to honor and protect family members, and in some instances, their domestic and farm animals as seen in this exceptional, fine and rare carving.  Intricately carved from one piece of wood, it depicts a Taoist official holding a hu tablet on top above  the “Spring Ox” accompanied by the “Herd Box”, who together perform an ancient agricultural rituals at the end of each winter to wake the earth up so that spring can arrive.

     

  • Antique Brass Nandi, India (9509B-GAH) $155

    $155.00
    H: 3.5″  W: 1.75″  D: 2.5″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    This finely cast antique figurine with finely articulated features portrays Nandi with jewels sitting recumbent on a high-tiered throne. Kneeling in reverence to serve  Lord Shiva he is a symbol of purity and strength. Small figurines were placed on home shrines with other deities and significant family items. Made using lost wax   it is a one-of-a-kind piece

     

  • Antique Bronze/Brass Nandi, South India (9510VHE) $395

    $395.00
    H: 3.25”  W: 1.375”  D: 2.5” | FREE SHIPPING

    This small antique brass Nandi is exquisitely handcrafted with a wonderfully aged patina. He sits recumbent on a raised rectangular platform. Delicately incised with decorative details delineating the head, neck, snout and body, his right leg and tail are sinuous, graceful ornaments rather than defining features. His head is at a 45-degree with lyrically curved horns in contrast to most versions with horns extending backwards. This Nandi is based on a South Indian cow whose humpback is emphasized here by two parallel lines covering it as if is part of a saddle or another ornament feature.

  • Antique Buddha as an Infant on a Lion, China (19405DRK) $850

    $850.00
    H: 9″  W: 3.625″  D: 3.5″ | FREE UPS SHIPPING!

    This rare carving of the infant Buddha with well defined features is clearly a provincial rendering that uniquely departs from traditional renderings. He holds a monk’s begging bowl as he points to the heavens and he stands on a lion’s head, as he is the lion of the Shakya clan. Given its small size, it was probably displayed on a home altar.

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    Antique Carved Box with Auspicious Symbols, China (11325B-GHL) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $325.00.Current price is: $295.00.
    H: 6.375″ W: 10.75″ D: 7.125″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This charming carved and lacquered multi-use box opens from the top and has a side drawer with a metal pull. It is decorated with auspicious carved symbols for a good, healthy, prosperous and long life  Carved fu lion heads with flowing manes adorn the front and plum blossoms and a fan the front and frame.  Painted calligraphic phrases refer to a wish for many sons. It was likely a wedding gift to newlyweds and still for that or other purpose.

  • Antique Carved Lacquered Pair of Fu Lions on Pedestals, China (19074ASE) $995

    $995.00
    H: 12″ D: 7″ D: 7.75″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This very fine pair of antique carved males fu lions represents the dual nature of these mythical animals: as protective images they are powerful and fierce, as Buddhist images they are whimsical with smiling faces, dangling tongues, hanging ears and bushy tails. They are extremely well carved with harnesses and bells around their necks, detailed manes and tails on high intricately decorated bases to signal their importance. Perfect for enhancing feng shui in a home or office, large finely decorative wood pairs like this are extremely hard to find.

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  • Antique Carved Ox-Cart Ornament, Burma/Myanmar (11168BLK) $395

    $395.00
    H: 17.125”  W: 5”  D: 14.5” | CALL 213-568-3030 FOR SHIPPING

    Burmese ox carts are often decorated with carved teak ornaments attached to the yoke/cart crosspiece with a similar function of protection and guidance as the figurehead prow on a ship. This ornament of a man moving up a hill is probably a Burmese nat that wascinitially brightly painted andnow is mounted on a wood and metal stand.

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    Antique Carved Thunder God Leigong on a Hou, China (16327WCK)

    Original price was: $345.00.Current price is: $295.00.
    Ht: 6.5” W: 2.5” D: 4” | SHIPPING FREE WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This masterful small carving with gilt is Leigong, the Chinese God of Thunder seated on a mythical hou. whose celestial scarf floats behind him. An important protective guardian, he was one of many prominent symbolic sentinels guarding the occupant of a highly detailed carved Chinese bed to keep away untoward influences and spirits. Finely carved, it is mounted on a frosted acrylic base and is one of a pair with  Guanti God of Justice on a Hou (16325).

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    Antique Guanyin on a Mythical Hǒu, China (16370LME) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $895.00.Current price is: $675.00.
    H: 9.5”  W: 2.25”  D: 6.5” | FREE SHIPPING within Continental U.S.!

    This remarkable figurine is Guanyin on her mythical  mount, the Hǒu, guardian master of the universe and model for righteousness and morality who symbolizes bringing forth peace and prosperity.The round orb in its mouth representing a pearl can be rubbed for good luck.  It is one of our most unique and favorite Buddhist statues, mounted on a frosted Acrylic stand.

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    Antique Hamsa Heddle Pulley, Burma/Myanmar (11298A-WCK) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $195.00.Current price is: $150.00.
    H: 10.5”  W: 3.25”  D: 2.375” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S. !

    This elegant heddle-pulley carved from a single piece of Burmese teak is topped by a hamsa, a goose-like bird  and a  sacred Buddhist symbol of wisdom mentioned in  the Jakata tales about the life of the Buddha. It is believed that auspicious symbolic animal images protected the weaver, assured quality weaving, and pleased the gods and spirits. This antique piece is wonderfully weathered from time and use.

  • Antique Hindu Peacock Oil Lamp, India (9526BEB) $365

    $365.00
    H: 13″  W: 8.5″  D: 4.75″  | FREE SHIPPING within Continental U.S.!

    This graceful brass oil lamp is topped by two peacocks, a large one that held oil and a smaller one decorated with striated lines sitting high on a thin mount with a spiral base. It was used for Hindu prayer rituals (puja) in the home or at temples and for devotional worship. This fine lost wax lamp with a soft patina is a one-of-a-kind piece. Often used in Hindu religious sculptures, peacocks have a strong religious tradition and represent harmony, joy and beauty and the time cycle.

     

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    Antique Home Altar With Panel of Guanyin on Hǒu, China (19433BCK) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $585.00.Current price is: $485.00.
    H: 9” W: 18.5” D: 5.875” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    As a wish for a prosperous and healthy family with many sons, this small table elegant probably was in a young couple’s bedroom to hold small personal statues and store precious items. Guanyin sits a hǒu holding lotuses in the right panel and the left has fertility symbols rats with melons.  It is perfect for creating a personal home altar and a unique wedding gift.

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