Tutelary

A tutelary deity is a god or goddess who is a guardian or protector of a specific place, geographic site, lineage, occupation or a home and its inhabitants. Main Chinese Tutelary Deities are Tudi Gong (the local Earth Deity), Cheng Huang Gong (City God of individual cities) and Matsu (Protectress of the Seas).As guardians of individual homes and families, the Kitchen God and his wife fit into this category.

Showing 1–12 of 16 results

  • Sale!

    Antique Carved Kitchen God and His Wife, China (16840BME)

    Original price was: $850.00.Current price is: $790.00.
    H: 7.5″ W: 2.875″ D: 2″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This pair is VA’s most unique and finely crafted Kitchen God couple. Wearing beautifully carved robes, clasping Hu tablets, they have  approachable features and subtly smiling lips. The painted character on the base of each is a wish for “happiness.” These exceptional consecrated and rare pieces are in excellent condition with a fine patina. Kitchen Gods radiate warmth, especially when placed near the stove and are unique house warming or wedding gifts and add positive chi and enhance feng-shui in any home.

  • Sale!

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

    Original price was: $275.00.Current price is: $233.75.
    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.

  • Sale!

    Antique Earth God Tudi Gong, China (16332BOK) $775

    Original price was: $775.00.Current price is: $658.75.
    H: 12.125” W: 6.125” D: 4.125” | FREE SHIPPING within Continental u.s.!

    This vibrant and finely carved wood statue is the old good-natured Earth God Tudi Gong once found in most rural communities throughout China. He is a kind and benevolent god as seen by his good natured features, believed to live in and help residents of small villages, especially for issues relating to agriculture or wealth.   As an administrator he sits on a horseshoe chair wearing officials clothes and carries a tael, a gold bar that symbolizes a wish for wealth. With his sweet and unpretentious demeanor, he looks like someone you just like to hang out with. Once in every village and most homes, these charming images have, like all Taoist deity images, become scarce.

     

     

  • Sale!

    Antique Heavenly Taoist Empress Mazu, China (5677JACK) $1750

    Original price was: $1,750.00.Current price is: $1,487.50.
    H: 21” W: 11.5” D: 8” | FOR a SHIPPING quote call us at 213-568-3030 or email [email protected]

    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) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $425.00.Current price is: $375.00.
    H: 9” W: 6.525” D: 2.5 | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.

    This home devotional image, finely carved in the round, represents Mazu, the most revered Taoist female deity in coastal areas in mainland China, Taiwan and Vietnam. She sits in a traditional 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 and dressed in humble attire with characteristically small feet, a hanging red sash, and a modest hat with a flat phoenix.

  • Sale!

    Antique Imperial Mazu, Empress of Heaven, China (16348XSKE) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $3,250.00.Current price is: $2,762.50.
    H: 31.5”  W: 16..5”  D: 10.5” | |  CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING

    This vibrant large antique statue is Mazu, Protectress of the Seas, reputedly the most important sea goddess of Asia. A significant Taoist deity, she is also venerated in Buddhism, Folk/Popular Religion and Confucianism. Designated the Eternal Mother and  the Empress of Heaven she wears a phoenix headdress, elaborate regal robes with gilt appliqué, raised curvilinear designs, glass and mirror insets and intense hues of red, blue, green and yellow to allow those at sea needing aid to see her.  She is the patron goddess of Taiwan and included in the UNESCO unintelligible cultural heritage list .

     

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    Antique Kitchen God and His Wife (16850D-BME) $695

    Original price was: $695.00.Current price is: $590.75.
    H: 7.25″ W: 3″ D: 1.625″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This Kitchen God and his wife are mirror-images, originally placed above the stove to monitor and bring good luck to the household. Finely carved, they wearing simplified officials robes and symbolically hold a tablet. On Chinese New Year Zao Shen ascends to the heavens to report to the Jade Emperor about the household’s morality:  a favorable report brings blessings, fortune and continued life, and a poor one brings misfortune. Sometimes families smear honey on their lips to assure a favorable report. Their bright colors have faded naturally into a smooth warm patina which adds comfort and positive feng sui to any kitchen decor and are unique wedding and housewarming gifts.

  • Sale!

    Antique Kitchen God and his Wife, China (16850E-BME) $695

    Original price was: $695.00.Current price is: $590.75.
    H: 7.75″ W: 2.875″ D: 1.875″ | FREE SHIPPING within continental u.s.!

    This Kitchen God and His Wife are well-carved, articulated, well presented. As mirror images sitting on backless chairs on a high plinth, they have similar layered gold officials’ robes  and very different headdresses. Their clasped hands covered in ritual cloth symbolizes holding a hu tablet, they portray the reverence and solemnity associated with house gods whose future of families are in their hands. Antique Kitchen gods are unique and wonderful house or wedding gifts as they add warmth to positive chi to any decor.

     

  • Sale!

    Antique Kitchen God and His Wife, China (16850H-BME) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $785.00.Current price is: $667.25.
    H: 7.75″  W: 3.25″  D: 2.375″ | free shipping within Continental U.S.!

    Finely detailed and carved from dense wood, this Kitchen God and his Wife monitor the members of the home from their perch above the stove. On Chinese New Year Zao Shen reports to the Jade Emperor in Heaven and a positive report bringsblessings and good fortune, while and unfavorable one brings misfortune. Family members often smear honey on his mouth to sweeten the report.  Near mirror images they wear layered gold officials’ robes with decorative sashes and symbolically hold a hu tablet. They are in excellent condition and add positive chi and enhance feng shui. Kitchen Gods especially pairs are now rare and very collectible and make unique wedding and house gifts.

     

  • Sale!

    Antique Mazu the Taoist Empress of Heaven in Horseshoe Chair, China (6003A-BCK) 1050

    Original price was: $1,050.00.Current price is: $892.50.
    H: 15.375” W: 8.625” D: 7.5” | FOR a  SHIPPING quote CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030 or email [email protected]

    This Mazu, the protector of sea farers, is portrayed as the imperially sanctioned “Empress of Heaven” seated on an elaborate horseshoe shaped dragon throne, hands clasped symbolically holding a hu tablet, adorned with elegant dragon robes, an official’s girdle, a flat-topped Empress headdress and small feet resting on a pair of gilt fu lions. Meant to be seen from all sides this beautiful carving is decorated on front and back.

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    Antique Nuo Opera Mask of Tudi Gong, China (16574BAK) $575

    Original price was: $575.00.Current price is: $488.75.
    H: 10.5”  W:7.75”  D: 3” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This amusing antique Nuo Opera mask portrays Tudi Gong, the benevolent Earth god with a smiling animated face, long eyebrows, a hemp beard and large ears  wearing a high decorative hat. Tudi is a zhengshen, a god who is kindly, honest with a gentle disposition, symbolizing the great power of good, through which evil can be defeated. Nuo was popular during the Ming and Qing dynasties and although they are still performed in rural areas, there are few remaining troupes.

     

     

  • Sale!

    Antique Polychrome Mazu “Holy Mother in Heaven,” China (3429AEM) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $1,450.00.Current price is: $1,232.50.
    H: 19.25″  W: 10″  D: 8.75″ |CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING COST

    Seated imperiously on a horseshoe chair with legs on a turquoise embossed pedestal on a base with carved  characters of her title “Holy Mother in Heaven,” this majestic Mazu is depicted in the imperial style, wearing a regal flat topped headdress and elaborate robes with dragons and an officials girdle at the waist highlighted in red and covered with gilt. This wonderful carving is in excellent condition after years of use.

     

     

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