Officials

Chinese officials were portrayed in paintings and carvings in many forms: as military and civilian officials, Taoist or Popular Religion officials, sages or priests, ancestor figures or legendary or mythical heroes. They were presented as standing or seated authoritarian figures with serious expressions with one or both hands on the knees or one holding up a girdle belt of office. Their colorful and sometimes elaborate robes were often red, symbolizing fu and the “5 Blessings or Happiness” health, wealth, longevity, a virtuous life and a peaceful death.

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  • Antique Ancestor Figure in Official’s Attire, China (16752) $2285

    $2,285.00
    H: 34″  W: 11.25″  D: 7.25″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    Although this wonderfully carved antique figure portrays an ancestor depicted as an official, his atypically benevolent and finely modeled face makes him a very endearing figure. Old and weathering from age in its rear, this piece was repainted probably in the 20th century, as was always periodically done with old figures with losses, here especially due to the seasonal South China climate. With his individualized convincing features, he is a very relatable rather than authoritarian figure, possibly resulting from the affection of the family that commissioned it.

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  • Antique Ancestor Official in Ornate Robe with Raised Lacquer Designs (5686BREM)

    $4,950.00
    H: 23.5″  W: 15.625″  D: 10″ |  CALL US AT 213-568-3030 for SHIPPING and Price INFORMATION

    This exceptional Qing carving portrays a seated official ancestor wearing  traditional official’s clothing, a red and black official’s hat and black boots. His inset glass eyes and high cheekbones frame a large curved nose, a strong projecting chin and forehead wrinkles indicating a man of importance with the wisdom of age who demands respect. The top two robe layers have wide borders with marvelous raised lacquer decorations that include beautiful cloud forms, flying phoenixes with spread wings and floral sprays.

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  • Antique Carved Standing Ancestor Official, China (18017ESK) $425

    $425.00
    Ht: 8.25″  W: 3″  D: 2.125″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    Dressed in a red robe with a high neck collar, extremely wide sleeves extending below the knees and a belt around his waist, this ancestor figure portrayed as a civilian official standing on a rectangular base with hands together wearing a long civil official’s robe that extends to his shoes but has no rank badge indicated.

  • Antique Civilian Official Ancestor Figure, China (16848BEM) $395

    $395.00
    H: 13.75″  W: 5.25″  D: 4″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    This ancestor figure, carved in boxwood the preferred wood softwood during the Qing Dynasty, is portrayed in the characteristic pose of a Chinese civilian official, grasping his official’s belt with his right hand to demonstrate his important stature – which was really not so important for this gentleman, given his humble seating furniture and his modest attire. His right hand rests on the his knee as he sits erect on a thick low-back pedestal. Unlike many officials who are serious, this one is more approachable, with simple deeply carved smiling features, high arching brows and a black painted mustache and beard.

     

  • Antique Mandarin Ancestor Figure, China (16479BLK) $395

    $395.00
    H: 11”  W: 5”  D: 3.375” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This ancestor figure is portrayed as a Mandarin civilian official indicating either his actual high rank or his family’s desire to depict him as one seated in a traditional official’s pose and dressed official Mandarin attire and high status boots. The three-character inscription on the pedestal seems to be a name 范 懋卿(Fan Mao Qing) that probably indicates his identity and/or the family who commissioned the image.

     

     

     

  • Antique Mandarin Ancestor In Horseshoe Chair, China (19054BOK) $850

    $850.00
    H: 12.75”  W: 6.625”  D: 5.75” | FREE SHIPPING

    This masterfully carved ancestor as a mandarin official sits on horseshoe chair set on a footed high decorated plinth dressed in a well-appointed formal 3-button Mandarin long coat and pointed rattan hat. His face is uniquely and unusually individualized with heavy lidded eyes, in a benevolent expression and his advanced aged indicated by the wrinkles clearly depicting a loved individual. This exquisitely carved image in excellent condition with a fine patina was true homage to a revered family member and is one of our finest ancestor figures.

     

  • Antique Mandarin Ancestor on Horseshoe Chair, China (18061BEM) $455

    $455.00
    Ht: 8.5″  W: 4″  D: 3.375″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    This small fine quality piece depicts a modest ancestor figure as a Mandarin official seated in a horseshoe chair on a raised pedestal emphasizing his importance wearing the traditional mandarin 5-button long coat with a round collar, a plain officials hat, and an undergarment extending to the top of his black shoes. He has a somewhat personalized oval-shaped tranquil face, a high forehead with curved painted brows, a hint of a smile on his pursed lips, and a triangular pigtail down his back.

     

  • Antique Mandarin Official Ancestor Figure, China (16433JSK) $595

    $595.00
    H: 11.5”  W: 5”  D: 4” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This well-carved  and remarkable ancestor figure is a lower-level Mandarin Civilian official seated on an armless yoke-back chair mounted on a plain rectangular base. He wears a traditional Mandarin jacket, an ankle-length skirt and a black velvet cap for winter or rattan woven hat in summer. His left hand is on his knee while the clenched right rests on the other one in an iconic Mandarin official pose. He is extremely well-carved with facial details showing his advanced age and he exudes an air of authority and status. In contrast to idealized ancestors, he is more individualized reflecting aspects of the actual person portrayed.

     

  • Antique Official in Red Robes with a Hu Tablet, China (16851BOK)

    $875.00
    H: 15.5:  W: 6.125″  D: 4.125″ | free shipping!

    This fine ancestor figure portrayed as a Chinese official with many indications of his high status. He sits on a backless chair upon a high decorative pedestal upon which his feet rest and . He wears officials attire: a futou cap and high collared red robe with double belt extending to his shoes. He sits in a formal pose with hands on his thighs holding a long slender  hu tablet. His facial hairs indicate a mustache and beard, now partially lost, on his gilt colored face.

     

  • Antique Official with Hu Tablet, China (14001ZSK) $395

    $395.00
    H: 14.25”  W: 5.5”  D: 4” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This unique and dense antique/vintage carving may represent the noted historical figure:  the principal regent Dorgon  of the first Qing Emperor Shunzhi who ruled from 1643-1650 as a”quasi” emperor based  on the four-character inscription that reads “Southern Holy Emperor.” He is presented wearing an impressive and detailed hat and coat holding a hu tablet characteristic of one standing before an emperor.

     

  • Antique Seated Ancestor Official, China (16289BME) $650

    $650.00
    H: 7.25”  W: 4.625”  D: 3.5” | FREE SHIPPING

    This finely carved ancestor wears official’s attire and hat and sits in a horseshoe chair with his feet on a pedestal to emphasize his power and status, although he appears to be a lovwer level civilian official.  It is masterfully carved and lacquered and is painted on front and back in red  with traces of gilt – all propitious colors of “fu” as a wish for wealth, health, good fortune, long life and long life – that has faded over it years of use into a great patina.

  • Antique/Vintage Earth God Tudi Gong with Wife, China (16342LOE) $750

    $750.00
    H: 12.375”  W: 4.875”  D: 3.625” | FREE SHIPPING

    This merry pair of Tudi Gong, the Earth God with his wife Tudi Po are portrayed as very endearing, jolly and approachable deities who probably were placed on a home shrine in a rural agrarian area. They are dressed as lower status civilian officials in elaborate but earthy robes in vibrant hues – he with a mandarin square of a bird and she with a stylized phoenix on her hat and sit in officials poses on backless chairs with a decorative pedestals. Just being in their presence makes you want to smile and share their happiness.

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