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$950.00
This rare fine woodcarving represents Chou Ts’ang, the aide-de-camp to Guandi, the most revered military hero in Chinese history. Portrayed with black skin tones, he has an intense expression highlighted by inset glass eyes and wears a military uniform with raised beads bordering his topcoat tied above his waist, a belt below his stomach, and heavy black military boots and hat. The sword he originally held is now missing. His plain round pedestal has an indentation in the middle, possibly to affix the figure to a larger configuration.
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$850.00
This fine woodcarving is Chou Ts’ang (Chou-Tsang), the aide-de-camp and attendant to Guandi, the most revered and well-known military hero in Chinese history and the Taoist God of War. As an attendant his hands held together paying respect in anjali mudra while facing Guandi. He is normally placed to Guandi’s left with eyes downcast in respect to the general and either his left foot forward ready to spring into action or his legs firmly planted on the ground. His protective military clothing, maille, and heavy boots are presented in detail and the high rectangular red and black pedestal with painted gold florals makes him a key figure even though the figure of Guandi he attends would have been significantly larger and important. With expected minor chips, cracks, wear and paint losses, it is in very good condition although hanging material is missing from left sleeve.
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$2,450.00
This lovely carving of a beautiful young woman represents an attendant that would have been housed on a home altar or shrine to accompany an enlightened Buddhist or Taoist figure at whom she modestly gazes. Her hands, covered by a draped ritual cloth, hold offerings, she wears a fine tiered robe that falls gracefully to her shoes, her head is topped by a decorative scalloped headdress and a ribbon swirls around her implying her significant power, weightlessness or being in the heavens. The carving is in excellent condition with painting and applied lacquer over the back as well as the front and its lustrous patina attained over centuries adds depth and softness to the image. This is truly an elegant and forceful statue symbolizing the bestowal of blessings and longevity.
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$245.00
This precious finely-carved diminutive figurine is an enlightened Buddhist attendant who stands on a double lotus base used only for enlightened beings as part of an array of images to bless the family for a special occasion – the marriage of a son or daughter as indicated by the inscription on the back. With hands in reverence her eyes glance down down modestly with dellight for the figure she attends and the joyous occasion . The skillful modeling of the image and the detailed inscription make this a very special piece.
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$390.00
This well-carved figure represents an attendant that would have been on a home altar to accompany a Taoist figure. Standing on a tall pedestal with a slight smile and downcast eyes, he reaches across his chest to present a rounded box secured with a ribbon. He wears an official’s hat and boots, open waistcoat over an undergarment secured at the waist. The pointed inner panel of his lower garment has slightly flaring panels with incised carved decorations. He is in very good condition with remains of the original lacquer and gilt which have naturally darkened from age and. from years of incense, age and use.
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$325.00
This small antique brass Nandi is well-proportioned, exquisitely handcrafted and has a wonderfully aged patina. He sits recumbent on a raised rectangular platform. Delicately incised with decorative details delineating the head, neck, snout and body, his right leg and tail are sinuous, graceful ornaments rather than defining features. His head is at a 45-degree with lyrically curved horns in contrast to most versions with horns extending backwards. This Nandi is based on a South Indian cow whose humpback is emphasized here by two parallel lines covering it as if is part of a saddle or another ornament feature.
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$595.00
This delicately carved seated female attendant in polychrome and lacquer probably accompanied Buddhist, Taoist, or Popular Religion images and ancestor figures on a home altar. With her hands held at her chest covered by a ritual cloth she hold an offering bowl. She has a blissful expression, pursed lips in a serene smile, eyes downcast reverently, and hair flowing down her back under a decorative cap and wears a traditional high collared outer robe over a shorter undergarment with a broad sash hanging to the garment hem. It is in very good condition with expected paint, scratches, and losses consistent with age.
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$385.00
A group of 12 zodiac figures as mingqi sometimes accompanied the wealthier deceased in their tomb. This Ming dynasty earthenware figurine stands on a low circular base and wears an official’s hat and long flowing robes. It is difficult to identify the specific animal held here but it may be a rabbit, small dog or baby pig. The detailed figure is hollow and partially mould-made and unlike glazed mingqi, was covered with a white slip and painted using black and white pigments which are mostly extant.
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$6,300.00
In this rare statue Guanyin sits in meditation in her cave at Putuo with two sets of attendants placed within niches of the cave and topped by a seated Taoist official who is the donor who commissioned the statue or a priest. She wears a blue crown decorated with floral motifs, a red base and centered with a deeply carved image of Amitabha Buddha silhouetted in a deep arched border. Her traditional three-part robe with a blue undergarment, red outer garment and blue shawl extends down to the top of her pedestal throne topped by flat stylized lotus leaves. The top attendants are her acolytes Shan Tsai on her right and the Dragon Princess Longnu on her left and below are two generic attendants.
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$720.00
Nanhai Guanyin sits in meditation on a pedestal framed by a large mandorla with her two acolytes, Shan Tsai (now lost to deterioration) and the Dragon Princess Longnü. Unlike most similar images which are composed of a separately carved backdrop and attendants attached to her throne, it was carved from a single piece of wood. It was covered with polychrome and gilt and a layer of lacquer, much of which has deteriorated. The pedestal has partially disintegrated and is now affixed to a lucite stand and there are surface losses and age cracks. Despite this, the piece retains its spiritual and serene charm. Guanyin’s face has a benign expression with half-closed eyes, pursed smiling lips, pendulous ears, and a crown with an image of Buddha Amitabha. Most Buddhist carvings suffered severe damage during China’s modernization and antique Guanyin images with her attendants are very rare.
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$650.00
This unique pair of attendants was likely placed on a home altar flanking and looking slightly inward to a Buddhist or Taoist figure or deity. Standing on circular pedestals, they smile slightly with eyes cast down presenting boxed offerings – one covered with cloth with a bowed ribbon on top and the other a thin tall rectangular box with a cover. They wear voluminous robes with flaring sleeves and upward curving bottoms that defy gravity and an officials high hats and boots. It is very rare to find pairs of charming figurines in excellent condition such as these.
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$4,985.00
This fine set of three elegant Ming dynasty attendants – one male and two female – are in a unique category of refinement and elegance that reflects the importance and high status of the tomb, deceased and the family for which they were made. Standing on hexagonal bases with arms folded below their chests and presenting offerings to the deceased, their clothing and parts of the bases have a rare cobalt blue glaze, two have yellow glazed areas and all have painted unglazed areas. Their removable heads are highly detailed and beautifully modeled fitting inside high collars. These figures are presented and sold as a remarkable set reflecting their original presentation and condition.
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