Taoism & Folk Religions

Showing 13–24 of 76 results

  • Sale!

    Antique Female Attendant with Offerings, China (19035BKE) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $595.00.Current price is: $505.75.
    H: 14”  W: 6.25  D: 3.5” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This delicately carved seated female attendant probably accompanied a religious image on a home altar. She holds an offering plate with three offerings of dumplings or pieces of fruit, possibly a peach trio which is a Chinese longevity symbol. A three-item offering is a also pun for a group of three ancient coins known as tael, a symbol of wealth and a wish for high status.

     

  • Sale!

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

    Original price was: $495.00.Current price is: $420.75.
    H: 12” W: 4.375”  D: 2.25” | FREE SHIPPING within continental U.S.

    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.

     

  • Sale!

    Antique God of Wealth Caishen, China (19313BCK) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $745.00.Current price is: $633.25.
    H: 10.25” W: 4.75” D: 3.625” | FREE SHIPPING WITHin Continental U.S.!

    This beautifully carved  God of Wealth (Caishen) is portrayed as are all Taoist deities as an authoritative figure, right hand firmly placed on his knee and left hand holding a tael. His outer robe has decorative borders down the front and carved coins at the shoulders, stomach, and an undergarment is gathered with a floral designed tasseled cord. His well-defined face with incised wrinkles and long beard has a benevolent expression with rounded cheeks and an open mouth, topped by an elaborate official’s hat with ribbon-like extensions. Very fittingly, it is painted with red and gold both associated with wealth.

  • Sale!

    Antique Guanyin Held Up by Demons, China (16208VRKE) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $5,200.00.Current price is: $4,420.00.
    H: 45″ W: 17.75″  D: 11.5″ |CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING COST

    This outstanding rare Guanyin carving is a wonderful blend of Mahayana and Tantric (Tibetan) Buddhism and provincial Popular Religion folk traditions. Seated on a lotus above a hexagonal throne, right hand in abhaya protection mudra, her lobed crown is centered with  Amitabha Buddha inside an aureole. The four agonized creatures struggling to hold calm Guanyin on their shoulders is a Tantric symbol of  triumph of Buddhism over ignorance.  With admonitions about greed, aversion and ignorance it is a great metaphor for our times. 

     

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    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: $361.25.
    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 Home Altar Queen Mother of the West, China (16035TSK) $395

    Original price was: $395.00.Current price is: $335.75.
    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.

     

  • 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 Large Guanyin on Lotus Throne, China (16211RKE) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $4,750.00.Current price is: $4,037.50.
    H: 31.75”  W: 11.25”  D: 6.5” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT [email protected] or 213-568-3030

    This extraordinary Guanyin originates from rural provincial less literate China.  Not made in a sophisticated “imperial” style, its great charm depends on straightforward forms in bright and decorative color combinations.  Her oversized crown contains a framed Amitabha Buddha. Using vibrant unusual multi-colored color combinations, an informal sitting position, simplified, almost geometric shapes for the head and facial features and bright modest robes, she  reflects a humble folk art image accessible to rural devotees. Its size indicates it was carved for a large home, clan or community temple.

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