Archaistic Sculptures and Carvings

These 3 antique Chinese terracotta statue plaques give a glimpse into the world of 19th century ancient China. Made in terracotta, each plaqu...

Slab pottery constructed barn workshop having a peaked roof – open walled form with a mechanical pounder and a large round covered storage container. Light blue-green mottled glazed surface with some iridescence patina to the glaze. Condition: Intact, excellent condition, an unusual example. Provenance: The Living Torah Museum, Brooklyn; ex. Sands of Time, 2002. Sculptural effigies of domesticated animals were often interred in the tombs of nobility and elite members of the social hierarchy. Models like this one were made to represent everything from simple goat or pig pens to the most elaborate towers and palaces. Because very few ancient Chinese buildings have survived intact, these models, along with descriptions from ancient texts, give a good representation of what the buildings might have looked like. This fantastic piece is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. Burial figurines of graceful dancers, mystical beasts, and everyday objects reveal both how people in early China approached death and how they lived. Since people viewed the afterlife as an extension of worldly life, these figurines, called mingqi, sometimes referred as “spirit utensils” or “vessels of ghosts” disclose details of routine existence and provide insights into belief systems over a thousand-year period. For the first time in Chinese history, we have images of rural and daily life during the Han in the form of contemporary...

The charming figure, carved from a single piece of wood is exceptionally carved showing the male figure with humorous expression holding two Rabbits one by the ears and the second under his arm. A third Rabbit stands at the feet of the male looking up, each rabbit with a different expression. The male figure is wearing traditional Japanese attire with his hair tied back stood upon a naturalistic base. The figure dates to the Meiji Period (1868-1912) circa 1900. Notes The Rabbit is one of the 12 animals to feature in the Japanese Zodiac signs which follows the Chinese astrological system along with the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. Such division is connected with the Jupiter cycle around the Sun, which lasts about 12 years. As 2023 is the year of the Rabbit...

Stunning and one of a kind Buddha sculpture. There are only very few people in the world who can accurately date this hand carved marble or granite Japanese Buddha head...

A large and impressive Indian carved sandstone architectural frieze featuring a central image of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi flanked by two atten...

Large pair of antique style bronze Thai kneeling and praying Buddhas. Intricate detail, gilt head piece. Probably mid 20th century.

A magnificent pair of male and female courtiers from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE) in excellent condition. They are wearing traditional Daopao robes in green and black garments wit...

Beautiful pair (2) old Japanese vintage gilt pheasant bird sculptures. Marked Japan on bottoms. From our recent Japanese acquisitions in original condition with original attractive gilding present. Japan, an attractive and iconic pair (2) pheasant sculptures with original gilt patina. One is poised with vertical tail and thehy other in a seated horizontal position. The pheasant is considered Japan's national bird. This creative simple adaption makes a compelling contemporary pair of sculptures. Fine original used condition with original gold gilt patina appropriate to their age. Original gilt patina from age. Dimensions: 7 inches tall and 6.5 inches wide Photographed in natural day light. Quality: Excellent quality and fine craftsmanship by Japanese specialized artisans Provenance: authentic Japanese examples (see labels). Lifetime guarantee of authenticity. All of our Asian works of art come with our lifetime authenticity guarantee. About Japan's Green Pheasant In Japanese culture, the green pheasant is unofficially considered the national bird of the country owing to its references in ancient folk tales of Japan. The green pheasant was said to be a messenger of the Sun Goddess...

Beautiful pair (2) old vintage gilt pheasant bird lanterns and censers, signed. From our recent Japanese acquisitions in original condition with origina...

Ancient Indus Valley cup bearer Fertility figurine Circa (2800-2600 BC). A rare female pottery cup bearer figurine in terracotta with pointed facial features and applied diamond sha...

Beautifully sculpted Japanese Meiji period Torii gate sculpture. The sculpture made from solid bronze with a beautiful patination throughout dating to the Meiji period 1868-1912 circa 1890. The gate of traditional form representing the Matsuo Shrine in Kyoto. The characters read ???? translated directly to Matsuo Shrine. Notes The Torii gate sculpture was crafted after the famous Torii gate which is found in the Arashiyama district in Kyoto. It houses Matsuno’o Taisha (Matsunoo Taisha ????) one of the oldest shinto shrines in Kyoto dating to 701, approximately 100 years before the city of Kyoto. It boarders the mountains and has a distinct main hall dating to 1397 which is also one of the oldest buildings in the city of Tokyo. The shrine’s spring is famous for its restorative properties and sake and miso producer’s patron the shrine with their particular industries relying on the pure water to survive. The distinct giant Torri gate stands at 14 meters tall alluding to its significance in the city. Three beautiful gardens can...

A massive larger than life terracotta buddha bust of Guan Yin, China, early 20th century. Broken and restored with wear and tear from enduring exposure to the elements. Size: 75 cm high. Weight: 40 kg. Guanyin, Kwanyin, Guanshiyin or Guanyin Pusa is the Chinese interpretation of the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara (the goddess of comfort and mercy). In addition, she is seen in Taoism as an immortal. The scripture dedicated to her is Dabeizhou. Guanyin is the goddess of compassion and the sea. She is one of the three saints of the western paradise, along with Mahasthamaprapta and Amitabha Buddha; they are worshiped to save departed loved ones from hell and grant them entrance to the western paradise. Guanyin Chinese name Traditional Chinese 觀音 Simplified Chinese 观音 Transcriptions Full Chinese name Traditional Chinese 觀世音 Simplified Chinese 观世音 Literal meaning "[The One Who] Perceives the Sounds of the World" Transcriptions Second alternative Chinese name Traditional Chinese 觀自在 Simplified Chinese 观自在 Literal meaning "Lord who Gazes down on the World" Transcriptions Burmese name Burmese ကွမ်ယင် IPA [kwàɴ jɪ̀ɴ] Tibetan name Tibetan སྤྱན་རས་གཟིགས Vietnamese name Vietnamese alphabet Quan Âm (Quán Âm) Quán Thế Âm (Quan Thế Âm) Quán Tự Tại Chữ Hán 觀音 觀世音 觀自在 Thai name Thai กวนอิม, พระอวโลกิเตศวรโพธิสัตว์ RTGS Kuan Im, Phra Avalokitesuan Korean name Hangul 관음, 관세음, 관자재 Hanja 觀音, 觀世音, 觀自在 Transcriptions Mongolian name Mongolian script ᠨᠢᠳᠦ ᠪᠡᠷ ᠦᠵᠡᠭᠴᠢ Japanese name Kanji 観音, 観世音, 観自在 Hiragana かんのん, かんぜおん, かんじざい Transcriptions Indonesian name Indonesian Kwan Im, Kwan She Im, Awalokiteswara Filipino name Tagalog Guanyin (ᜄᜓᜀᜈᜌᜒᜈ) Sanskrit name Sanskrit अवलोकितेश्वर (Avalokiteśvara) Khmer name Khmer អវលោកិតេស្វរៈ (Avalokitesvarak), អវលោកេស្វរៈ (Avalokesvarak), លោកេស្វរៈ (Lokesvarak) Hmong name Hmong Kabyeeb, Niam-Txiv Kabyeeb, Dabpog, Niam-Txiv Dabpog Guanyin (traditional Chinese: 觀音; simplified Chinese: 观音; pinyin: Guānyīn) is a Bodhisattva associated with compassion. She is the East Asian representation of Avalokiteśvara (Sanskrit: अवलोकितेश्वर) and has been adopted by other Eastern religions, including Chinese folk religion.[note 1] She was first given the appellation "Goddess of Mercy" or "Mercy Goddess" by Jesuit missionaries in China.[1] Guanyin is short for Guanshiyin, which means "[The One Who] Perceives the Sounds of the World."[2] On the 19th day of the sixth lunar month, Guanyin's attainment of Buddhahood is celebrated.[3] Some Buddhists believe that when one of their adherents departs from this world, they are placed by Guanyin in the heart of a lotus, and then sent to the western pure land of Sukhāvatī.[4] Guanyin is often referred to as the "most widely beloved Buddhist Divinity"[5] with miraculous powers to assist all those who pray to her, as is mentioned in the Pumen chapter of Lotus Sutra and Kāraṇḍavyūha Sūtra. Several large temples in East Asia are dedicated to Guanyin, including Shaolin Monastery, Longxing Temple, Puning Temple, Nanhai Guanyin Temple, Dharma Drum Mountain, Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, Shitennō-ji, Sensō-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, Sanjūsangen-dō, and many others. Guanyin's abode and bodhimaṇḍa in India is recorded as being on Mount Potalaka. With the localization of the belief in Guanyin, each area adopted their own Potalaka. In Chinese Buddhism, Mount Putuo is considered the bodhimaṇḍa of Guanyin. Naksansa is considered to be the Potalaka of Guanyin in Korea. Japan's Potalaka is located at Fudarakusan-ji. Tibet's Potalaka is the Potala Palace. Vietnam's Potalaka is the Hương Temple. There are several pilgrimage centers for Guanyin in East Asia. Putuoshan is the main pilgrimage site in China. There is a 33 temple Guanyin pilgrimage in Korea which includes Naksansa. In Japan, there are several pilgrimages associated with Guanyin. The oldest one of them is the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, a pilgrimage through 33 temples with Guanyin shrines. Guanyin is beloved by most Buddhist traditions in a nondenominational way and found in most Tibetan temples under the name Chenrézik (Wylie: Spyan ras gzigs). Guanyin is also beloved and worshipped in the temples in Nepal. The Hiranya Varna Mahavihar located in Patan is one example. Guanyin is also found in some influential Theravada temples such as Gangaramaya Temple, Kelaniya and Natha Devale nearby Temple of the Tooth...