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 25–36 of 41 results

  • Sale!

    Antique Wood Zhenwu the Taoist “Perfected Warrior,” China (19416XLKE) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $1,250.00.Current price is: $1,062.50.
    H: 15.25″  W: 6.75″  D: 6.75″ |CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING COST

    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.

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    Antique Wood Zhenwu, The Taoist “Perfected Warrior” China (19066B) ME) $575

    Original price was: $575.00.Current price is: $488.75.
    H: 13” W: 5” D: 4.875” | FREE SHIPPING!

    The Taoist god Zhenwu, the Perfected Warrior, is one of the most revered Chinese Taoist deities venerated for his ability to heal as well as to protect his country and the emperor. In this fine provincial piece he is humbly presented with a plain robe with an official’s belt wrapped around his back and over his ample stomach which more resembles a Chinese official than a deified warrior.  His face has well-defined features including the eyes and lips set in a benevolent slight smile. It was painted in polychrome and some of the original black, yellow, and red paint can be seen on the bottom.

     

  • Sale!

    Antique Zhenwu, The Taoist “Perfected Warrior,” China (16097BME) $595

    Original price was: $595.00.Current price is: $505.75.
      H: 12”  W: 5.625”  D: 4” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This charming and rare provincial carving represents the Emperor Zhenwu known as True Warrior or Perfected Warrior who is one of the most revered Chinese Taoist figures, venerated for his military skill and his ability to heal and protect his country. Although he generally sits on a throne with a snake under his right foot and a tortoise under his left, here his left foot rests on the tortoise’s back entwined by a snake. Covered in gilt, he wears a plain official’s robe rather than military garb, and holds a jade belt, a portrayal often mistaken as a simple official. His long black flows down his back, covering and surrounding the rear cavity.

     

  • Sale!

    Antique/Vintage Bejeweled Wood Naga, Burma/Myanmar (11134B-KRK) SOLD

    Original price was: $1,133.00.Current price is: $963.05.
    H: 32″  W: 20″  D: 7.5″  SHIPPING INFORMATION REQUIRED. CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This exceptional naga was one of two that comprised a gong stand. Gongs were used in Burma for both ceremonial and musical purposes in religious, state, or secular settings. A protection figure, this naga is a superb carving elaborately decorated with gold lacquer and pigmentation. He opens his mouth wide bearing mother-of-pearl teeth and a curled blood red mouth and tongue to drive away malevolent spirits, also reinforced by the large glaring eyes circled in red. On first glance it is menacing, but its history as a protector of Buddha Shakyamuni make it prized as a fanciful, gleeful guardian. His scales are arched relief designs of mixed lacquer and ash and they are highlighted with inset cut mirrors and green sequin-like glass “jewels.” It is mounted on a museum quality stand and is in excellent condition for its age and use despite missing an ear.

  • Sale!

    Antique/Vintage Black Lacquer Monk’s Offering Hsun-Ok, Burma/Myanmar (6211BSK) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $695.00.Current price is: $590.75.
    H: 26.25″ Dia: 12.5″ |CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING COST

    Artfully shaped hsun ok pieces to hold offerings to monks and make merit reveal much about Burmese artisans: exceptional lacquer ware skills, support for monks and devotion to Buddhism. This large elegant Hsun Ok has a flaring pedestal, lid with a finial symbolizing a Buddhist stupa and applied mythical animals and floral decorations. Early 20th century pieces with these special details are harder to find and copies abound.

     

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    Antique/Vintage Brass Nandi Figurine, India (9509A-GAH) $245

    Original price was: $245.00.Current price is: $208.25.
    H: 4.5”  W: 2.25”  D: 3.25” | FREE SHIPPING

    This well articulated figurine features is Nandi decorated with jewels and recumbent on a high-tiered pedestal throne. Nandi figurines are placed on home altars for daily puja and are decorated with flowers and incense offerings as a sign of respect and this image has an attached incense holder for this purpose. Made using lost wax casting, it is a one-of-a-kind piece in very good condition with a fine patina and smooth surface.

     

     

  • Sale!

    Antique/Vintage Jetayu Mask, Museum Quality Stand, Bali (1208BEK) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $650.00.Current price is: $552.50.
    H: 13.75”  W: 6.25”  D: 9” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030 or [email protected]

    Jetayu is the mythical demi-god divine bird in the Hindu epic the Ramayana. It is a very rare Balinese mask with a fine patina from decades of dance performances. The crowned forehead and snout, huge round eyes, wide-open mouth, curled leather tongue, expressive jaw muscles with upper and lower sets of piercing sharp teeth in graduated sizes reflect the pinnacle of skilled woodcarving and polychrome painting.

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    Antique/Vintage Taoist Shaman with Taotie on Hat, China (7503ZAH) $395

    Original price was: $395.00.Current price is: $335.75.
    H: 13.625”  W: 7”  D: 5.5” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This vibrant carving of a Taoist priest or shaman is in religious attire with double-winged high hat centered with an image of a taotie. Two fingers of hisleft hand are in karana mudra to cast our evil spirits and the tael or silver ingot in his right hand represents a wish for wealth. The closed cavity and the inscription on the back indicate it was consecrated by a Taoist priest.

  • Sale!

    Han Dynasty Bronze Dragon Belt Hook, China (1095BLE)

    Original price was: $485.00.Current price is: $412.25.
    Ht: 4.675 W: 1″ D: 0.625″ | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This Han dynasty bronze belt hook is fashioned as a dragon with intense eyes. Dragons were ancient symbols of divine protection, symbolizing good fortune, high rank and power. The underside  button-like extension affixes to a belt hole, the hook is positioned horizontally to attach to clothing. Belt hooks were used in life as status symbol and buried with the deceased for the afterlife. In very good condition, it has not been cleaned and has normal pitting and surface losses due to its two millennia-old burial in a humid tomb that has heavily oxidized over the years and, therefore, has beautiful verdigris deposits.

  • Sale!

    Rare Antique Carving of Guanyin on a Deified Ox, China (16287LMK) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $885.00.Current price is: $752.25.
    H: 10.25″ W: 7.5″ D: 3.75″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This extraordinary rare and delicately rendered rural carving is a female bodhisattva possibly Guanyin seated on a lotus throne atop an ox. Beautifully highlighted in vibrant gold and adorned with intricate designs on the lotus petals and ox’s saddle coverings, this statue shows how the concept of a bodhisattva was adapted to the deification of  “draft animals” (beasts of burden) who were integral to rural daily and agricultural activities in Chinese Popular Religion, Buddhism and Taoism beliefs.

  • Sale!

    Rare Antique Hand Carved “Wooden Fish” Cadence Drum, China (16801BSK)

    Original price was: $875.00.Current price is: $743.75.
    H: 12” W:11.75” D: 9.5” | CALL 213-568-3030 FOR SHIPPING QUOTE OR EMAIL [email protected]

    Cadence drums in the form of carved pairs of fish are used by monks and lay people in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition to create a cadence and chanting rhythm during rituals when reciting and memorizing sutras, mantras, and other Buddhist texts. This rare beautiful drum is held by its handle composed of a pair of fish surrounding a  pearl symbolizing unity and harmony and struck on the side with a wood mallot. Wear on its rear side indicates years of use.

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    SOLD Antique Moon Cake Confection Mold, China (1150LEM) $1150

    Original price was: $850.00.Current price is: $722.50.
    SOLD H: 18.25”  W: 9”  D: 1.875” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This intricately hand carved antique Chinese hardwood confection mold was used to create mooncakes to celebrate the Mid Autumn Moon Festival.  The five separate molds are references to the Jade Rabbit, the mythical hare residing on the moon who creates the elixir of mortality and eats Osmanthus leaves. Filled with symbolic references, it is an intriguing and beautiful piece of art.

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