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The Keith Stevens’ article “An Unusual and Extraordinary Ancestral Image” describes a similar figure of a huntsman with a weapon, a flintlock gun, which he stated was the only ancestral image in his vast collection which “depicts the calling of the deceased.” (Stevens, Journal of Hong Kong) His piece was from Hunan, South Central China,…
Most Hindus have images of one or more murtis (gods and goddesses) on their home altar to help them in their daily prayers (puja), focus their attention and help visualize them. A murti is treated with the utmost respect, care and reverence but devotees never worship the objects and instead use them used only to…
Taoist carvings were often placed on home altars along with ancestor images, house-gods and religious figures to bring propitious blessings (fu) to the household. Commissioning and honoring ancestral figures and officials were an important part of filial piety, a cornerstone of ancestor worship and a main tenet of Confucianism. Since Taoists were represented in many…
The Senufo, numbering between 1.5 and 2.7 million people in West Africa, are primarily agricultural. They live in mud-brick farm houses in large villages and are renown as remarkable musicians, creators of wood figures, masks and metalwork tribal-art. For centuries, they like many groups created arm and ankle bracelets as symbols of wealth and status…
The Senufo of Mali number between 1.5 and 2.7 million people in West Africa and are primarily agricultural. They are renown as remarkable musicians and carvers of wood figures and masks. For centuries the Senufu created metalwork arm and ankle bracelets that were symbols of wealth and status, fashion adornments used ceremonially for births, coming…
This fine and rare kneeling image is Shen Nong (Shennong (神農), “Divine Farmer” or “Divine Husbandman”), one of most revered cultural heroes in Chinese mythology. Born in the 28th century BCE, he is the Founder of Natural Medicine, the 2nd of the Three Emperors of the Celestial Ministry of Health. A syncretic deity in both…
Fruit plates have been used as offerings in all Chinese religions to communicate with and venerate ancestors and deities in temples or home altars, bring reciprocal blessings to the bearers, strengthen family ties and demonstrate filial piety. Offerings of fruit, vegetables, sweets, tea and flowers and lighting candles and incense were ceremonially presented on home…
Ganesh is one of the most distinctive images in Hinduism. His elephant head symbolizes the gaining of knowledge through listening (large ears) and reflection (large head). His ample belly symbolizes the whole universe contained inside him and his ability to digest whatever experiences life brings and is a sign of well-being and of his role…
Krishna, an avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu, is the god of love, protection and compassion and one of the most revered and popular of all Hindu deities. The focus of devotional cults for centuries, he has been a frequent inspiration for religious poetry, music and painting. This rare and exquisitely detailed antique silver pendant depicts Krishna…
Chinese stone weights have been used for millennia as measurement that were standardized with each dynasty. There were also local applications as a non-standardized weight, securing a picnic cloth, keeping a scholar’s calligraphy paper immobile and as a garden accessory. These antique Chinese stone carvings were often auspicious shapes like animals, fruit, and vegetation. During…
Offerings of sweets, fruits, florals, tea and currency are traditionally placed on a home altar in Chinese homes and temples, often in front of ancestor figures or tablets as a form of ancestor worship in homage to their spirits. They were also placed before Buddhist and Taoist images in reverence and gratitude to the deities….
Most antique Chinese outdoor garden stools were made in a drum or barrel shape using common ceramic designs like decorative fretwork, low relief decoration, simple pierced schemes, a variety of underglaze painted images, and calligraphyand fired in kilns. The upper border of the body of this beautiful stoneware garden stool is covered with four color…
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