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Lee Irvin calls Guanyin one of the Great Chinese Goddesses who are imperially sanctioned and epitomize the feminine role of compassionate protectors who grant health, long life and safety to all regardless of their social position. Each has large temples, monasteries and small local shrines dedicated to them. She in the lotus position (padmasana) with…
The delicately carved antique Guanyin sits in dhyana (meditation) her head bent in serene peacefulness. The unusually large back cavity indicates it was consecrated by a Buddhist monk in an eye-opening ceremony and placed on a home altar. Masterful yet simple, this provincial image brings quiet energy to its surroundings and imparts a sense of serenity and peace.
In this elegant and vibrant carving Guanyin sits in meditation. her beautiful, serene face elegantly carved in contemplation withbud-shaped lips softly set in a welcoming and benign sweet smile wearing a five-lobed crown. She sits on an open lotus with a vertical post at her sides; her sacred vial on her right and a parrot on the left. Antique carved i Guanyin statues with her symbols in this condition are quite wonderful and rare and impart a feeling of serenity to the environment around them.
Statues like this vibrant Guanyin, especially popular during the Qing dynasty, epitomizes the best of folk art spiritual traditions of provincial artisans who replaced imperial constructs with provincial depictions that combined Buddhist, Taoist and Popular Religion traditions. Her high crown is centered with Amitabha Buddha surrounded by swirling florals, the indented urna (third eye) on her forehead would have held a cut glass. Humble, charming and approachable portrayals of Guanyin like this were placed in homes and small community temples.
This elegant antique heddle-pulley carved from a single piece of Burmese teak is topped by a hamsa, a goose-like bird and a sacred Buddhist symbol of wisdom. Auspicious symbolic animal images are believed protect the weaver, assure quality weaving, and pleases the gods and spirits. It is wonderfully weathered from time and use.
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.
This very attractive antique green glazed teapot is typical of the stoneware pottery made in the Shiwan kilns in Guangdong during the 18-19th century. Finely designed, this hexagonal pot has a yoked rounded handle with spiral decorations that adds a delightful touch. The pieces are well known for their brilliant flambé—or flame-like quality – glazes such as apple green glaze of this pot.
This Hindu prayer bell was likely placed on a home or temple altar and used in daily puja rituals. It has a smooth and undecorated body with only incised parallel rings circling plain surfaces and is topped by a Garuda pair sheltered by Naga hoods. Garuda, Vishnu’s mythical winged bird mount, and Naga, a seven-headed hooded serpent, are natural enemies but when they are represented together, they symbolizes peace, a very appropriate adornment for the tranquility and serenity elicited by the pleasing sounds of a prayer bell.
Oil lamps (diya) are used daily by Hindus throughout India for prayer rituals (puja) performed on a home altar or in temples for devotional worship. Hindus believe that diyas are essential, as light itself is the absence of darkness and where evil forces dwell. Light and the act of lighting a lamp signify purity, virtuosity,…
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.
As a syncretic Taoist deity, the Queen Mother of the West has a huge cult following among Taoist, Buddhist and folk religion devotees revered for her powers to control life and death and to determine the life span of all living beings. Irvin calls her one of the Great Chinese Goddesses who are all imperially…
As a wish for a prosperous and healthy family with many sons, this small table elegant probably was in a young couple’s bedroom to hold small personal statues and store precious items. Guanyin sits a hǒu holding lotuses in the right panel and the left has fertility symbols rats with melons. It is perfect for creating a personal home altar and a unique wedding gift.
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