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Whimsical carvings of fu lions were the most popular mythical animals in Chinese homes, especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties, as free standing statues, designs on furniture, architectural elements and functional pieces in private homes or gardens or on a home altar to bring fu and the blessings to the home. This incredibly cute…
Early Chinese Mahayana images portrayed Lohans as followers of the Buddha, living in the human world in human forms .Through their spirituality and asceticism they achieved enlightenment and were no longer subject to rebirths but choose to not enter nirvana and remain as guardians to preserve Buddhist teachings, protect the Buddhist faith and lead others…
This elaborate 19th century elmwood vanity cabinet is an example of Chinese vernacular furniture catering to the newly prosperous Chinese merchant class whose colorful tastes countered those of conservative scholars and the literati imperial class. Covered with red lacquer, the color of blessings (fu), it has deeply carved and painted decorations highlighted with gold with…
Hindus use brass or mixed metalwork votive oil lamps (diya) for daily prayer rituals (puja). As light is the absence of darkness where evil forces dwell, lighting a lamp on a home altar signifies purity and goodness to convey good luck and power over evil. They are also used to honor arrival of a guest,…
This superb, colorful and rare carved Buddha is seated in vitarka-mudra, the taching hand position. His delicately carved calm face has a benevolent and compassionate expression with a slight reassuring smile. The elegant body appears to float above deeply carved swirls reminiscent of clouds. Fine facial features, the graceful body and exquisitely carved and painted drapery make this a truly impressive and striking image. Given its size and masterful carving , it should hold a place and be revered commensurate with its spirituality and artistry.
The close association of the lotus and Guanyin (Sanskrit Padmapani meaning “born of the lotus,”) is depicted in this Guanyin image sitting on a flat, round open yellow lotus padmapitha pedestal held up by a stem flanked by red lotuses facing out in a folk art tradition. As one of the Great Chinese Goddesses (Irvin),…
The original 16 or18 arhats in Theravada Buddhism, later called Lohans in Mahayana Buddhism, were the original disciples of Gautama Buddha. Able to attain enlightenment and enter nirvana, instead they remained on earth to aid Buddhist devotees to reach nirvana. Buddhist temples are often lined with 18 lohan but there may be many more. Never…
Sawankhalok in north-central Thailand is an area with a large ceramic kiln output during the Sukhothai Kingdom (1238-1583). When Ming emperors forbade export of Chinese ceramics from 1368-1487, a period known as the Ming Gap, Thailand became a major ceramics producer and exporter to Southeast Asia, Japan and the Middle East. During the 14th and…
Oxen/bullocks and their carts were the primary means in Burma/Myanmar for plowing, hauling or transportation. Inexpensive and adaptable to any terrain, they were used to tend fields and carry goods, agricultural products, lumber, and people. Two or four-wheeled carts were pulled by one or a pair of oxen that were hitched to the cart by…
This charming antique low elmwood cabinet has two wide intricately carved storage drawers. for storage and was probably made from elmwood. Late Qing Dynasty artisans devoted as much effort creating small treasures like this as they invested in larger pieces. Handcrafted with mortise and tenon joints, these items were made without nails or glue making them more…
The Eight Immortals are folk heroes with supernatural powers who achieved immortality and became Taoist deities. They were probably actual people who were granted extraordinary powers after death. Since the 13th century they have been viewed as a fun loving group living in heavenly mountains and hills enjoying good food, wine, gambling and the opposite…
Small solid clay earthenware terracotta figures have been found in many Majapahit period sites primarily finished with carved and/or incised decorations. The powerful Majapahit Empire spanning the 13th-16th centuries was Hindu based, centered on the island of Java and extended from present-day Indonesia to Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Southern-Thailand, and the Philippines. Trowulan was the empire’s…
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