Taoism & Folk Religions

Showing 13–24 of 77 results

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

    $495.00
    H: 12”  W: 4.235”  D: 2.25” | FREE SHIPPING

    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.

     

  • Antique God of Wealth Caishen, China (19313BCK) $745

    $745.00
    H: 10.25”  W: 4.75”  D: 3.625” | FREE SHIPPING!

    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.

  • Antique Guanyin Held Up by Demons, China (16208VRKE) $5800

    $5,800.00
    H: 45″ W: 17.75″  D: 11.5″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This outstanding Guanyin wood carving is an extremely rare image and displays a wonderful earthy blend of Mahayana and Tantric (Tibetan) Buddhism and spiritual and folk traditions that resonated with provincial populations. She sits on a lotus above a hexagonal throne right raised in abhaya mudra, lobed crown is centered with the Amitabha Buddha inside an aureole. The four agonized creatures struggling to hold the calm Guanyin on their shoulders is a unique Tantric visual representation of the triumph of Buddhism over ignorance. Probably placed in a community shrine or Guanyin temple, the rear is unpainted as it was displayed high against a wall and foreshortened to be viewed from below. With its admonitions about greed, aversion and ignorance it is a great metaphor for our times. 

     

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  • Antique Heavenly Empress Mazu, China (5677JACK) $1450

    $1,450.00
    H: 21”  W: 11.5”  D: 8” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    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) $425

    $425.00
    H: 9”  W: 6.525”  D: 2.5 | FREE SHIPPING

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

  • Antique Home Altar Queen Mother of the West, China (16035TSK) $395

    $395.00
    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.

     

  • Antique Imperial Mazu, Empress of Heaven, China (16348XSKE) $3250

    $3,250.00
    H: 31.5”  W: 16..5”  D: 10.5” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This colorful large image represents Matsu as the Empress of Heaven in elaborate robes covering her front and back with gilt appliqué, raised curvilinear designs, glass and mirror insets  and intense hues of red, blue, green and yellow to allows those at sea in need of her assistance to see her.  A gilt headdress with raised threads and a mirror and topped by a phoenix sits on her intricate hair strands.  Originally on a chair or throne and made to be seen in the round, it now has a wood slat to stabilize it.

     

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

    $695.00
    H: 7.25″  W: 3″  D: 1.625″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    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. 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 gifts.

  • Antique Kitchen God and His Wife, China (16840BME) $850

    $850.00
    H: 7.5″  W: 2.875″  D: 2″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    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 is a wish for “happiness.”  These exceptional consecrated pieces are in excellent condition with a fine patina.

     

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

    $695.00
    H: 7.75″  W: 2.875″  D: 1.875″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    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.

     

  • Antique Kitchen God and His Wife, China (16850H-BME) $785

    $785.00
    H: 7.75″  W: 3.25″  D: 2.375″ | free shipping!

    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. Near mirror images of each other they wear layered gold officials’ robes with decorative sashes and symbolically hold a hu tablet. They are in excellent condition with most of the original pigmentation and gilt and make unique wedding gifts..

     

  • Antique Kitchen God and His Wife, China (19028LAK) $995

    $995.00
    H: 10”  W: 7.75”  D: 8.25” | FREE SHIPPING

    This single statue portrays the Kitchen God and his Wife on one stand which is rare and indicates their close and lasting relationship as the protectors of the home and family. The Kitchen God and his wife were placed above the stove, a central part of the household to view and report about the morality of the family members to the Jade emperor at Chinese New Year and ahve their fate determined for the coming year. His serene face has an uncharacteristic smile  Their bright colors have faded naturally into a smooth warm patina which adds comfort and positive feng sui to any kitchen decor.

     

     

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