In China, high rank (Guì rén 贵人) is a wish for noble status. During the Qing dynasty the highest rank of nobility was the gentry or the literati (scholars) who were Imperial Court Officials a position which could be inherited by their sons who passed the difficult series of Imperial Civil Service Examinations that granting immediate status as an imperial or government official. As a result of the Qing dynasty’s expansion and changing ethnic composition, a re-definition of inherited ranks resulted in 14 ranks and 20 sub-ranks for all court officials and the Manchu family. A lesser gentry status of Civilian Official was attainable by anyone who passed the Imperial Civil Service Examinations. Those of high status in most cultures had the means to purchase more expensive, well-made clothing and other items, many of which were emblems of their wealth, influence and high status.. An example of this in Western culture is the difference between every day utilitarian unndecorated pottery for Roman common folk, where the emphasis would be on a piece’s utility and not its beauty and higher quality ceramics such as ARS (African red slip wares) and even more epensive, higher quality pottery and other status symbols only the rich could afford.
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The finely carved ancestor figure in traditional Qing dynasty high neck Mandarin official’s long jacket with front buttons and official rattan woven headwear. The chair’s back slat was omitted as consecration cavity.
This excellently carved official with gilt highlights was commissioned to be placed on a home altar for ancestral veneration, impress those who viewed it, and to honor the venerated ancestor’s persistence, success, status, and power.
This earthenware brick tile bordered with a deep scalloped frame depicts a vase with a bouquet of propitious flowers: a chrysanthemum and a peony wrapped with an elegant ribbon. Tiles like this were made to decorate the large numbers of buildings created during the prosperous Song dynasty and to adorn tombs. This elegant brick is in good condition for its age with expected chips and cracks, some restoration of background and a re-glued frame break on each side. It has earth adherents from its burial in a tomb.
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