Phoenix

The Chinese phoenix (凤 凰 Fenghuang) is the “king of birds” with fabulous colors and the head of a pheasant, crown of a duck, beak of a swallow, back of a tortoise and tail of a fish. According to the 4th century BCE Chinese Classic of Mountains and Seas, its head represents virtue, back propriety, wing duty, chest mercy, and abdomen credibility. Said to have been born facing the sun’s rays, the mythical bird symbolizes the sun’s warmth, embraces the yang(male) principles of light and heat and promotes creation of male progeny. It brings affluence and only appears during periods of prosperity, peace and good government. Phoenix images decorated ceremonial costumes and were used in the Empress of China’s headwear and the ceremonial headdresses of the Queen Mother of the West and Matsu. As one of the four divine animals that presides over the southern quadrant it was a popular motif in Chinese Straits furniture and accessories with special meaning for Chinese residents in Southeast Asia. A pair with wings out or flying balance each other, represent harmony between a husband and wife and is a wish for a harmonious marriage with many sons. When the “king of birds” is paired with peonies (the “king of flowers”) they symbolize harmony, blessings, rank, good fortune and prosperity. A dragon and phoenix together symbolize a happy and harmonious union a popular decorative motif, especially in bedrooms. In feng shui, the phoenix symbolizes luck and is said to bring auspicious chi both to one’s life and home.

Showing 1–12 of 15 results

  • 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 Mazu, Protector of the Sea, China (19415PRO) $275

    $275.00
    H: 5.5”  W: 3.375  D: 3” | FREE SHIPPING

    This antique figurine is a matronly version of Mazu, Empress of Heaven in a horseshoe chair with gold earrings, hat topped with a phoenix and dressed in robes with a scalloped cloud collar. She is said to have lived in the 10th century only 28 years with a pure spirit and compassion for those in need throughout the world. With supernatural powers she performed miracles, subdued evil spirits and protected those at sea. After her death, she became a deity and is still widely prayed to as a Chinese deity.

  • Antique Elegant Queen Mother of the West, China (16096JASK) $1550

    $1,550.00
    H: 17.25”  W:  8”  D” 6” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CALL 213-568-3030

    This extremely fine Queen Mother of the West wears her ornate headdress centered by her iconic phoenix representing the sun and her authority. She is the patron deity of women, a divine teacher and is closely associated with the cultivation of virtue and immortality. On her holy birthday devotees, especially women, gather in temples for celebration rituals.

     

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  • Antique Female Taoist Priest with Hu Tablet, China (19154BLE) $495

    $495.00
    H: 12”  W: 4.235”  D: 2.25” | FREE SHIPPING

    This charming female figure with a sweet smiling face is a female Taoist priest wearing plain priest’s robe and an unusual headdress centered with a phoenix, the Chinese “king of birds” holding a ceremonial Hu tablet often carried by Taoists priests to indicate their power and status and their presence before a Taoist deity. Although there are few carved images of female Taoist priests, from its inception Taoism was very compatible with feminine characteristics and ordained them as priests.

     

  • Antique Head of Queen Mother of the West with 3 Phoenix Headdress, China, (16804BCK) $625

    $625.00
    H: 4.75″    W: 4 ”    D:  4.5″  | FREE SHIPPING!

    This unique carved head is the Queen Mother of the West, the first Chinese deity to be represented in Chinese art and the most important female deity in the Taoist pantheon. Carved from a single piece of wood, it is either  a puppet head or was attached to a larger figure. Her headdress has three phoenixes instead of her iconic single phoenix. Having a cavity on the rear of the head is rare indicating it might have been consecrated by a Taoist monk.

  • Antique Heavenly Empress Mazu, China (5677JACK) $1450

    $1,450.00
    H: 21”  W: 11.5”  D: 8” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This vibrant image represents the “Heavenly Empress” Mazu wearing a red-tiered outer robe topped with a black scalloped collar bordered with gold and carved in graceful folds. Three ornamental flowers painted on her stomach might reflect the Popular Religion myth that when Mazu’s mother was pregnant, she prayed for a daughter as she already had six sons. In a dream Guanyin gave her a flower blossom to wear, and the next day Mazu was born.

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  • Antique Home Altar Mazu, Protector of the Sea, China (19013ZRK) $425

    $425.00
    H: 9”  W: 6.525”  D: 2.5 | FREE SHIPPING

    This home devotional image, finely carved in the front and back, represents Mazu, the most revered Taoist female deity in coastal areas in mainland China, Taiwan and Vietnam. She sits in a traditional Taoist deity pose, hands covered by a ritual cloth with a space to hold a hu tablet on a plain armless high back chair. She is a provincial matronly figure, eyes calmly cast down, in humble attire with characteristically small feet, a hanging red, and a modest hat with a flat phoenix.

  • Antique Home Altar Queen Mother of the West, China (16035TSK) $395

    $395.00
    H: 12.5”  W: 4.875”  D: 3.375” | FREE SHIPPING!

    Finely carved from one piece of dense hardwood, this Queen Mother of the West image sits in a traditional pose on a backless throne with a large iconic phoenix on her hat and wearing in a graceful robe with two fingers of her right-hand holding a long sleeve that covers her left hand – common in Taoist deity images. It was brightly painted as seen by her red garments under a lacquered cover that naturally darkened over time from  incense and candle offerings.  Her carved facial features with pursed lips depict a caring, authoritative matronly figure.

     

  • Antique Imperial Mazu, Empress of Heaven, China (16348XSKE) $3250

    $3,250.00
    H: 31.5”  W: 16..5”  D: 10.5” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This colorful large image represents Matsu as the Empress of Heaven in elaborate robes covering her front and back with gilt appliqué, raised curvilinear designs, glass and mirror insets  and intense hues of red, blue, green and yellow to allows those at sea in need of her assistance to see her.  A gilt headdress with raised threads and a mirror and topped by a phoenix sits on her intricate hair strands.  Originally on a chair or throne and made to be seen in the round, it now has a wood slat to stabilize it.

     

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  • Antique Lacquer and Gilt Straits Chinese (Peranakan) Shrine Cabinet, China (3986BKE) $595

    $595.00
    H: 16.375″  W: 13.625″  D: 5.75″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This intricately carved black and heavily gilt antique cabinet is a fine example of a Straits Chinese furniture made in Guangdong for the Southeast Asia market.  Carved openwork panels with phoenixes and lotuses are symbolic wishes for harmony, blessings, rank, good fortune; outstretched wings wish for harmonious marriage, many sons and the inside decoration a wish for status and successful career. Although flamboyant for todays taste, it is a unique accent piece and gift for newly weds.

     

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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 Queen Mother of the West Casting Out Demons, China (16093BSK) $585

    $585.00
    H: 11.5”  W: 5.375”  D: 4.25” | FREE SHIPPING

    The Queen Mother of the West is one of the most significant Taoist female deities and a patron deity of woman who still pray to her on her birthday for health and longevity.This charming image sits on a backless throne with decorated pedestal, her iconic phoenix in her crown.  Her left hand is in karana mudra to cast out demons and negative energy. As it was consecrated it probably wasplaced on a home altar for personal devotion.

     

     

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