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 13–24 of 44 results

  • Antique Lacquered Fu Lion Candle Holder Pair, China (16065BAE) $395

    $395.00
    H: 5.75.”  W: 5”  D: 2.75” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This antique fu lion pair with candle holders arising from their backs look like they sprung from the mind of a Disney artist – they’re whimsical, have exaggerated features, possess a modicum of power, and command our attention while making us smile. In Buddhist traditions, fu lions were more friendly than fierce, with open mouths displaying teeth in a fanciful almost grinning pose. Following artistic traditions: they sit with forefeet on the ground, have thin bodies with rows of hair, a three-part tail, and are covered with auspicious reds and gilt. This endearing, fanciful, quirky, and delightful additions to any environment.

     

  • Antique Lacquered Wood Pair Fu Lion Furniture Bases, China (16735BSE) $595

    $595.00
    H: 4.25″  W: 2″  D: 0.75″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    During the Ming and Qing dynasties, small fu lion pairs were very popular accessories. As protectors of Buddhism, they are both menacing and friendly and this remarkably fanciful pair of crouching beasts joyously reflects both traits, with floppy ears, smiling open mouthed faces with tongues hanging out, and curled tails versus bushy eyebrows, bulging eyes and long pointed nails. As originally decorations on furniture with flat rear sides, they can stand alone as decorative accessories or even be a great pair of bookends. However they are used, they are guaranteed to bring a smile to those who are fortunate to see them on a regular basis.

  • Antique Lakshmi Oil Lamp, India (9508D-PBE) $245

    $245.00
    H: 5″    W: 3.25 ”    D:3.875  ”    | FREE SHIPPING!

    This brass oil lamp diya is decorated with an image on front and back of Lakshmi seated on a lotus, full-breasted and broad hipped, beneficently smiling and being lustrated (showered by water) by a pair of elephants, symbolizing rain clouds bringing water and life to the land and that unwavering effort to adhere to spiritual teachings and governed by wisdom and purity leads to both material and spiritual prosperity.

     

     

     

  • Antique Mazu, Empress of Heaven, China (6003A-BCK) $1050

    $1,050.00
    H: 15.375”  W: 8.625”  D: 7.5” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    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.

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  • Antique Miniature Pair of Carved Tigers, China (16075BME) $250

    $250.00
    Ht: 4.25  W: 6”  D: 3” | FREE SHIPPING

    Although tigers tiger images are said to expel evil, protect Chinese homes and as  a male yang symbol that represents and stimulates one’s courage, these folk art chubby tigers have a friendly demeanor with smiling mouths, eyes staring upward, ears close to the face. Crouching on a pedestal with scalloped borders they grasp a round orb in their pudgy front paws.  Curly tails extend upwards from behind covered with carved indentations with radiating striations.   This pair would be an endearing, fanciful, quirky, and delightful addition to any environment.

  • Antique Ox Cart with Chinthe Lion, Burma/Myanmar (11306FSE) $325

    $325.00
    H: 14.5”  W: 17.75”  D: 3.375” | FREE SHIPPING!

    Finely carved figures were attached to ox cart yokes to protect farmers from malevolent spirits who inhabited all seen and unseen sectors of their environment. This beautifully carved ox cart yolk was created in the image of a chinthe, (the word for lion) a mythical creature commonly represented in Burma to decorate a multiplicity of everyday items. Considered a propitious spiritual and protective guardian figure, the chinthe symbolizes power, courage, and strength. This carving displays the common characteristics of singhas with a long face with large eyes, a long sharp nose, a long draping lion-like beard, and a flame-like shape on the top of his head. He stands on all four legs holding his beard that extends from his open roaring mouth with sharply pointed teeth that combine elegance with strong beast-like strength. He is masterfully carved with careful attention to details like the deeply incised hairs that cover his body. For functional reasons, the piece is in two parts held together with a wooden plug. Even though it was for daily use, Burmese craftsmen created beautiful objects and finished them with the best materials they could afford. This piece was originally covered with lacquer, most of which has faded with use over time.  It is in good condition with losses to his left side, fading surface, and wear consistent with its age and use.

  • Antique Pair of Stone Fu Lions, China (17044BOE) $695

    $695.00
    H: 8”  W: 5.5”  D: 3.25” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This is a really great pair of stone small fu lions with lots of character, humor, and detailed carving. Each of these very joyous creatures has open mouthed smiling faces with radiant eyebrows and tufts below their chins, scalloped manes and bushy tails. Carved from one piece of a blackish hard stone they could easily withstand additional wear of the elements in a garden. Pairs of fu lions like this belong in the home of people who appreciate spirituality and wish for happiness and fortune along with a touch of wit and whimsy.

  • Antique Polychrome Mazu “Holy Mother in Heaven,” China (3429AEM) $1400

    $1,450.00
    H: 19.25″  W: 10″  D: 8.75″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    Seated imperiously on a horseshoe chair with legs on a turquoise embossed pedestal on a base with carved  characters of her title “Holy Mother in Heaven,” this majestic Mazu is depicted in the imperial style, wearing a regal flat topped headdress and elaborate robes with dragons and an officials girdle at the waist highlighted in red and covered with gilt. This wonderful carving is in excellent condition after years of use.

     

     

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  • Antique Puppet Head of Queen Mother of the West, China (16800BCE) $950

    $950.00
    H: 17”  W: 4.25”  D: 4.5” | CALL/EMAIL FOR SHIPPING QUOTE

    Chinese puppet theatre thrived, educated and entertained people with puppets that usually had detachable heads. A very popular figure, the Queen Mother of the West is one of the highest ranking female Taoist deities venerated by women as a powerful, independent deity embodying yin (female energy) who they prayed to for health and long life. Her complex elaborate headdress includes a large outstretched tortoise atop her iconic symbol, the phoenix, all flanked by two nagas under an arch bordered with a scale like finish, a truly unique and impressive image. She is mounted on a modern contemporary frosted acrylic base.

     

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  • Antique Shen Nong, Founder of Natural Medicine, China (16530BCEM) $4600

    $4,600.00
    H: 30.5″  W: 19.5″  D: 11.75″ | call US AT 213-568-3030 FoR SHIPPING AND PRICE INFORMATION

    Thislarge image Shen Nong is carved in the round. He sits on clouds with a knee up, shoulders covered with leaves also draped down his back. A ribbon covers his genitals underneath his bared navel. His face is set in a benevolent smile, and his beard and eyebrows consist of finely styled curls.  Exquisitely carved and extremely rare, this statue would be a prized image for anyone in the medical or pharmaceutical field.

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  • Antique Stone Fu Lion, China (16394JLM) $195

    $195.00
    H: 4.5″  Dia: 3.25″ | FREE SHIPPING

    This hand carved antique stone flu lion is a fun loving benevolent creature as seen in his open mouth with sharp teeth in a fanciful grin with a curled tongue, mischievously twinkling eyes under bushy eyebrows and a compressed rotund body with a very small tail. This is not your refined portrait of an elegant protective beast, it’s just a friendly pet hanging out with you. He probably lived in the garden of a provincial fun-loving family and is looking for a similar environment where people like old wonderful pieces to remind them not to take themselves too seriously.

  • Antique Taoist Literature God on a Dragon, China (16615PBRK) $795

    $795.00
    H: 15.5”  W: 5.5  D: 4.5” | FREE SHIPPING

    This rare house god image from South China is Wen Chang, the Taoist God of Literature and many realms associated with higher intellect, and education. He is a tall, extremely thin, surly, demon like image with ribs showing and facial distortions standing firmly on a dragon’s head  among waves holding his belt. Chinese turned to him for wealth, health, long life, and good fortune. Unlike ancestor figures, this carving was probably displayed independently in a prominent place in the office of a Chinese official or scholar. Increasingly difficult to find, this piece would enhance any desk, library, study, or other location.  It is in excellent condition with a warm patina, full of finely modeled details with a few surface scratches and paint losses consistent with its age.

     

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