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Seated imperiously on a horseshoe chair with carved title “Holy Mother in Heaven,” Mazu is depicted in the imperial style, with a regal flat topped headdress, elaborate robes with dragons, official’s girdle in red and gilt.
Mazu, protector of sea, is portrayed as the imperially sanctioned “Empress of Heaven” on an elaborate, horseshoe shaped dragon throne, holding a hu tablet, with elegant dragon robes, official’s girdle, Empress headdress and small feet on gilt fu lion foot rest.
Chinese Noa opera mask is likely a female zhengshen – a benevolent gods with kind and honest nature and gentle disposition -symbolizing the power of good to defeat evil. Age and heavy use
This excellently carved civilian official with gilt highlights was commissioned by a family to place on a home altar for veneration and to impress those who viewed it. The imposing ancestor figure grasps his belt of office to show his pride in passing examinations to become a civil official, which leads to a life of rank and prosperity for him and his family. Statues like this are an affirmation of persistence, success, status and power and they honor those who display these characteristics.
Pair of bronze palanquin rings to transport Khmer Empire royalty and elite decorated with a lotus motif found in Lopburi, Thailand, the western most Khmer outpost.
Pair of oil lamps for good fortune with diamond shaped double lozenge meaning many treasures, and plum blossoms, symboling the Five Happinesses – wealth, health, longevity, peaceful death and love of virtue.
Burmese teak heddle pulley surmounted by a graceful peacock that symbolizes wholeness, combining colors and fleeting nature of all things. Based on old animistic beliefs, heddles are decorated with auspicious animals providing the weaver protection, assuring good quality weaving and pleasing the gods.
This elegant heddle pulley carved from a single piece of Burmese teak is topped by a peacock, which in Buddhism represents the short-lived nature of all things. In Burmese animistic traditions, it auspicious animal images protect the weaver, assure quality weaving, and please the gods and spirits. Finely weathered from time and use.
Carved Mandalay style peacocks with outspread feathers like this were placed over entrances to protect religious and government buildings. The peacock was emblem of last Burmese Dynasty symbolizing the monarchy descending from the sun.
One of a pair of Tibetan antique folding traveling prayer/study table for monks or nomadic families to lay out sutras (scriptures), scrolls, books, other study materials. Decorated with painted florals and fruit offering bowl symbolizing flowering of enlightenment and opening of the heart.
Puppet theatre has traditionally assumed a major role in Chinese religious rituals and honoring major life and historical events. Local productions with beautifully carved puppets, music, drama and costumes instilled societal and cultural values as well as providing entertainment to audiences of all ages and educating provincial ones. This head has a typical tapering shaft…
Provincial carving with iconic phoenix headdress, hands in karana mudra to cast out demons, negative energy and purify spaces. Image was on home altar and consecrated with a sealed cover.
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