Framed Chinese Regal Portrait of a Woman

A vintage large framed Chinese watercolor panel that invites viewers into a tranquil realm of timeless beauty and cultural richness. This exquisite artwor...

This striking painting, rendered in traditional ink and watercolor, showcases a regal depiction of the Fu King, a legendary figure symbolizing good fortune and prosperity. The artwor...

This captivating framed Asian panel showcases a masterful enamel and stone inlay on wood, depicting a serene outdoor scene of women playing musical instruments. The women are gracefu...

A tall, eight panel lacquered coromandel Chinese screen. Crafted of enamel and black lacquer, decorated with figures in a court setting. Reverse side depicts flowering plants. Panel...

Interesting Chinese framed watercolor depicting a man deep in meditative thought with a woman and two children. Beautifully drawn with intricate details. The man sits on his mat with...

Believing that the departed continue to hold influence over the lives of the living, many Chinese households honor their ancestors in private family rituals, invoking their spirits for long life, health, and prosperity. Commemorative portraits, which came into vogue in the late Ming and Qing dynasties, were commissioned specifically for ancestor worship and were believed to house the spirits of the deceased. When properly cared for, one's ancestors were believed to be a powerful source of honor, protection, and good luck. This pair of ancestor portraits was hand-painted in the late-19th century and beautifully depicts a Qing-dynasty couple. While some ancestral portraits offer a more stylized representation of one's ancestors, this particular pair is painted with incredible realism and life-like expressions. Rather than depict the pair in a regal hall wearing elaborate finery, the couple is shown in a quiet home environment, seated at either end of a square tea table. Their surroundings are minimal, practically undecorated, and they wear simple, matching blue silk robes. Two young children stand beside them, each trying to capture the attention of their grandparent. We love the painting's close attention to detail and the glimpse it offers of Qing-dynasty interiors - from the carved apron of the marble-top table to the red silk lotus slippers...

This intricately detailed composition is a late-Qing dynasty ancestor portrait depicting several generations of a family's male ancestry. Or...

Chinese households honor their ancestors in private family rituals, invoking their spirits for long life, health, and prosperity. Commemorative portraits, which came into vogue in th...