19th Century Chinese Carved Limestone Monkey

This pair of 19th century carved limestone Fu dogs with sinister smiles and furled brows once guarded the entrance to one of provincial China's grand homes. One peers up and the othe...

Happening upon an intersection, a traveler in Qing-dynasty China would have been grateful for the guidance of this limestone path marker. Still bearing traces of its original pigmentation, each side of this marker is inscribed with directions. One side directs towards the Zhen De Teng household, another towards the Liang family, and a third towards the North East Road. The fourth inscription announces the year of its construction, the 33rd year of Emperor Guangxu (1908). This second-to-the-last emperor...

This carved limestone charm promises longevity in the form of the immortal peach. According to Chinese mythology, the Jade Emperor’s palace was surrounded by peach trees that provided ripe fruit every three thousand years. A single bite of this charmed fruit...

Unlike many objects of its kind, this limestone hitching stone was carved into a simple rounded shape without any figural references. Used to secure a horse by rope or reins, the sto...

This rustic, 19th-century iron bell once pealed in celebration or gave notice of important events in a town in northern China. Marked with holes to affix the...

This pair of limestone Fu dogs once protected a grand courtyard home in 19th century, China. Skilfully carved in attentive postures, the lion-like dogs are “shizi,” symbols of power ...

An ideal garden ornament, sturdy weather proof planter display base or a rock solid all weather stone base for a special sculpture. From China, comes this large 20.5 inch rectangu...

Unique garden accents This delightful round hand-carved stone in the form of an old "cash coin" with its square hole and dates to the 19th century. This was likely a mill stone for ...

From China, comes this large 22 inch diameter round hand-carved mill stone from the 19th century or earlier period. This was likely a grinding base stone for a large oil pressing too...

19th century Chinese carved figure. While this sculpture may be small it isn't lacking in its attention to detail. Across the chest of the figure you cans see two overlapping carved...

Powerful Hand Carved Sculptoral Work of Art, "Chimera" This powerful old mythical winged sculpture could be installed in your favorite home, office, or ...

China, an authentic antique hand-carved and hand-painted limestone temple figure of the venerable lohan, Kasyapa. This beautiful Buddhist sculpture will bring serenity and timeless style to your home, office, sacred space, or garden Substantial dimensions: 35 inches high and 12 inches wide Handmade and hand-carved, solid limestone with weathered remnants of older temple paint as applied by the temple from where it originally came, Chengdu, China. Head and hands are later replacements. Stone statues like these were regularly - refreshed- by the temple monks. In our extensive travels to western china we saw many instances of old stone figures like this with varying degrees of paint refreshing, ,replacement of heads as this one, and periodic refreshment by the temple monks to maintain a seemingly new appearance. Please note the offering cavity on his back side- undoubtedly used by patrons to place offering scripts or perhaps food as a sign of respect and veneration. This enjoyable character would make a fine garden presentation or special indoor choice. Only one. Provenance: Originally from a collector in Chengdu, China, acquired by us directly from this collection around 2002 on one of our many visits to that part of historic China. About Kasyapa: Kasyapa is a revered Vedic sage of Hinduism. He was one of the seven ancient sages considered as Saptarishis in Sanskrit texts and Indian mythologies. He is the most ancient rishi listed in the colophon verse in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad and called a self-made scholar in the Atharvaveda. He was based in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, and legends attribute the region of Kashmir to be derived from his name. One of the more frequently depicted lohans in Chinese sculpture is Kasyapa, a cousin to the Buddha. Throughout Six dynasties...