Offerings

Making offerings to deceased family members to show devotion and honor them or to revere gods, sprits or holy beings is part of most Asian religious traditions. In Theravada Buddhism, Burmese families bring food offerings to temples and monasteries in vessels called hsun oks to feed monks, make merit and enhance their karma and in Thailand flowers, incense and candles are common offerings made to Buddhist monks, Buddha images and people of higher rank to show respect.

In Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism, offerings are a way to communicate with and venerate gods and ancestors in temples or home altars, bring reciprocal blessings to the bearers and strengthen family ties. This may include offerings of fruit, vegetables, sweets, tea and flowers. Offerings may be represented in many ways: physically or symbolically on home and temple altars; as a single or pair of attendant statues holding offerings or as auspicious and symbolic images or decorative motifs placed on furniture, architecture, carved images, vessels, textiles or woodblock prints. For instance, a 3-item offering of dumplings on a plate is a pictorial pun for gold or silver coins symbolizing wealth and, also, a wish to pass the 3 civil levels of examinations guaranteeing a comfortable life as a civilian official. Offerings are made to the Kitchen God during the New Year to usher in health and prosperity. Traditionally, women made the offerings and men presented them on home altars or shrines to fulfill their family’s wishes.

Prasada is the word for food and water offered to deities during a daily puja ceremony in Hinduism. Five types of offerings – pushpa (flowers), dhupa (incense), deepa (light), naivedya (food) and gandha (sandalwood paste) – are made to symbolize the five elements – space, air, fire, water and earth. Offerings of fruit and flowers are also made at Hindu temples.

In Bali, trained dancers are considered messengers and direct communicators with the gods and make offerings before their performances for blessings and for acceptance of their offerings. Both the mask and dance are considered as having great power and are considered a symbolic spiritual offering to the gods.

  • Antique Attendant with Celestial Scarf, China (16726HKE) $2450

    Antique Attendant with Celestial Scarf, China (16726HKE) $2450

    $2,450.00

    Attendant figures are usually presented on an altar in pairs flanking revered figure they honor. This lovely carving is an enlightened being indicated by her pendulous ears, an elevated flowing ribbon, and blissful smile. She traditionally carries offerings which might be  food, fruit, medicine, or other unique items. Her extremely pleasing face highlights her modesty as…

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  • Sale! Antique Carving of Auspicious Fruit Offering, China #19304UAK

    Antique Carving of Auspicious Fruit Offering, China #19304UAK

    Original price was: $225.00.Current price is: $155.00.
    H: 4.75 ”     Dia: 3.675 ”    |  FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This antique carving of a wood food offering with a lacquer coating was an auspicious ornament for a Chinese bed to bring the lucky couple prosperity, health and a happy life.  The pomegranate on top is a fertility and the four peaches below are longevity symbols.  The combination of the fruits is a wish for many sons and longevity and is perfect gift for newlyweds.

  • Antique Female Attendant with Offerings, China (19035BKE) SPECIAL PRICE

    Antique Female Attendant with Offerings, China (19035BKE) SPECIAL PRICE

    $595.00

    Statues of attendants often appear as a pair looking inward and flanking a deity, unless they are very important ones and look straight ahead. They may carry a range of offerings. This antique Chinese woodcarving appears to be a Taoist image likely placed on a home altar along with deities, house gods and ancestors to…

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

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

    $325.00
    H: 14.5”  W: 17.75”  D: 3.375” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    Finely carved figures were attached to ox cart yokes to protect farmers from malevolent spirits who inhabited all seen/unseen sectors of their world. . This beautifully carved ox cart yolk image is a chinthe, a mythical Burmese lion/dragon creature commonly decorating many everyday items. A propitious spiritual and protective guardian, the animalsymbolizes power, courage, and strength. This carving displays the common traits of a lions with a long face, large eyes, a long sharp nose, a lion-like beard, and a flame-like shape on the top of his head. Masterfully carved with careful attention to details, see the deeply incised hairs that cover his body. The 2-part piece is held together with a wooden plug. Though for daily use, Burmese craftsmen created beautiful objects and finished them with the best materials they could afford.

  • Antique Nuo Opera Female Mask, China (19220WRK) $395

    Antique Nuo Opera Female Mask, China (19220WRK) $395

    $395.00

    The origins of Nuo Opera, performed in provincial villages in Southern China since antiquity, is found in spirit and ancestor worship and Taoism. Performances use a few dozen to 200 masks having distinctive facial features, decorations, regional and ethnic individuality and aesthetic diversity. Usually carved from poplar or willow which are light and less likely…

  • Sale! Antique Pair of Attendants with Offerings, China (16242)

    Antique Pair of Attendants with Offerings, China (16242)

    Original price was: $650.00.Current price is: $395.00.
    H: 7.75”  W: 3.5″  D: 3.5″ | FREE SHIPPING within continental U.S.

    Rare and charming carved attendant pair to flank deities on circular pedestals presenting boxed offerings with ribbons as wish for longevity.

  • Sale! Antique Portable Study/Prayer Table, Tibet  #7020HOL

    Antique Portable Study/Prayer Table, Tibet #7020HOL

    Original price was: $595.00.Current price is: $525.00.
    Ht: 13.75” W: 26.25” D: 13.125” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CAL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected]

    One of a pair of antique low tables on 3 folding bamboo-shaped leg supports, this traveling prayer/study table was designed for Tibetan monks or nomadic families to lay out sutras (scriptures), scrolls, books and other study materials and by Tibetan devotees as a personal altar/prayer table. It is simply decorated with painted florals on vines and a fruit offering bowl symbolizing the flowering of enlightenment and opening of the heart.

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  • Sale! Antique Shiwan Offering Bowl, Peaches and Lotuses, Shiwan, China  (19330)

    Antique Shiwan Offering Bowl, Peaches and Lotuses, Shiwan, China (19330)

    Original price was: $450.00.Current price is: $295.00.
    Ht: 5.5”  Dia: 6” |  FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.

    Shiwan stoneware peaches and lotuses on footed bowl auspicious symbols associated with springtime, fertility, long healthy life for many generations and therefore are propitious gifts for birthdays, especially for the elderly.

  • Sale! Antique Shiwan Stoneware Fruit Offering, China (19330)

    Antique Shiwan Stoneware Fruit Offering, China (19330)

    Original price was: $375.00.Current price is: $295.00.
    H: 8.75″  DIA: 6.75 ” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    Shiwan stoneware glazed sculptures of fruit symbolizing life and new beginnings to place on temple or home altar. They   augment plates of fresh stacked fresh fruit to honor ancestors. These pears symbolize long life.

  • Sale! Antique Silver Puja Spoon, India (3892)

    Antique Silver Puja Spoon, India (3892)

    Original price was: $225.00.Current price is: $175.00.
    H: 6.25 ”    W:1.625 ”    D:.25  ”    |    FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.

    Antique silver puja spoon used to offer water to the gods to show respect. Hindus use water to cleanse and purify one’s body, mind and spirit. The lotus symbolizes Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity.

  • Sale! Antique/Vintage Black Lacquer Monk's Offering Hsun-Ok, Burma/Myanmar #6211BSK

    Antique/Vintage Black Lacquer Monk’s Offering Hsun-Ok, Burma/Myanmar #6211BSK

    Original price was: $695.00.Current price is: $495.00.
    H: 26.25″ Dia: 12.5″ |CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING COST

    Artfully shaped lacquered Hsun Ok for offerings to monks 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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  • SOLD Antique Animal Shaped Wood Coconut Cutter, Thailand #3450ZSE SOLD

    SOLD Antique Animal Shaped Wood Coconut Cutter, Thailand #3450ZSE SOLD

    $395.00
    SOLD

    This antique coconut grater is a very practical multi-use creation designed to cut, grate, shave, husk, and shred coconuts and large fruits and vegetables. Some were carved as crouching rabbits and others like this were realistic renderings of small mammals. Its decorative appeal includes lovely 6-petal flowers above its four legs and elegantly curved and metal piece extending ”  W:from its mouth. With its warm and rustic feel, it would be a unique decorative addition to any kitchen and an interesting conversational piece.

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