Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings

Rare pair of Important Guardian Lions / Fo Dogs / Shizi in ceramic with cracked white enamel. China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century Each Fo Dog / Shizi is seated on a wooden base, it...

This remarkable miniature Chinese/Cantonese carved hardwood and gold leaf figure group depicts a group of five scholars, two of them holding a large object while the other three are ...

This magnificent Chinese Antique Carved stump Happy Buddha Statuary is 100% hand made and hand carved in about 1850 - 1900 from the tree stump. Following ...

19th Century sculpture of Guan Yu (??), a guardian deity. Guan Yu (d. A.D. 219), a warrior of the late Han dynasty (206 B.C.–A.D. 220) renowned for his valo...

A hand carved pair of male and female Chinese foo dogs, circa 1850. Each with original gilt with the old remnants of the import stickers. The male with hairy paw and foot on rattle...

Chinese white jade openwork plaque late Qing Dynasty depicting birds and flowers. Very fine and detailed work. Small loss on the back side of the pl...

A majestic pair of antique architectural salvaged Chinese temple corbels, now mounted as one-of-a-kind wooden sculptures on custom floor standing display pedestal stands. Originally commissioned for an important religious temple in China, the impressive large scale wall bracket corbels were notoriously difficult as they had to serve as both highly decorative temple ornaments and structural building elements used to support the weight of a wall. Hand-crafted in the early 19th century, smilarly styled design, each exceptionally hand carved, sculpted, and painted by highly trained artisans. Profusely carved and decorated, featuring very fine quality high relief work throughout, extensive bas relief, pierced openwork, rich carvings and intricate incised detailing, depicting various Chinese folk religion figures and imagery. Rising on bespoke handmade stands, consistenting of sturdy rectangular shaped thick plank plinth base embellished with foliate carvings, held upright by turned column single support. Rich in culture and history, interesting, unusual, highly decorative, whimsical and artistic, sure to add sophisticated elegance, rustic character, color, space, texture and lots of visual interest. Dimensions, largest (approx): Each: 32.5" H, 19" W, 7.25" D. Please note, the objects were sourced and transported both legally and ethically, retaining partial original red wax export seal to top. Display the three Sanxing, in their iconic representation as three, old, bearded, wise men, which dates back to the Ming dynasty, when the Gods of the three stars were represented in human form for the first time. One panel having two monumental smiling figures with hand painted eyes and tongue, the other fragment depicting four figures, seated and standing, likely Immortals, Gods, Shen deity, and other characters from ancient Chinese mythology and folklore. Both pieces with elaborate lotus and pine tree motif, a powerful symbol of wisdom and longevity. Sanxing figures are an important part of Asian culture. Statues of these three Gods...

Beautiful Chinese fan of Canton of the 19th century in Bone, Paper and Silk. Dimensions: H: 49cm, W: 28cm, D: 2cm.  

Superb Asian high pedestal table in solid wood richly carved. The tripod base is composed of 3 heads of dragons / demons. In the center, a dragon walks on clouds. He is surround...

Nicely carved and framed pair of high relief carved and painted panels. Subtle colors with age appropriate worn finish carved depicting cranes (birds) amongst flowers standing in wat...

Splendid statue made of jade in the typically Chinese 19th century. The statue is very beautiful and rests on an oval base made of very fine dark wood. The lower part of the statue ...

Pair of hand carved Chinese Jade hardstone Foo Lions or Fu Dogs. This pair of Chinese spinach jade appears to be a nephrite, covered vases having a figural foo lion design with raise...

A Chinese Gongshi (known as meditation stone or spirit stone) from Taihu (Lake Tai) balanced on display stand. This scholar rock features a relatively rar...

An high quality bronze sculpture of Buddha hand-crafted in China in late 19th century. It has normal signs of use and age.

A Chinese scholar rock carved from a natural lapis stone and displayed on a brocade wrapped stand circa late 19th century Qing Dynasty. The brightly blue lapis was considered as am exotic gemstone in China and mostly imported from Persia through the silk road. While not a conventional rock types of materials for scholar stones, it is occasionally carved and polished into smaller Gongshi to be displayed and meditated upon in the scholar's study. Similar approaches were also done with jade, malachite and turquoise, even petrified wood, Chenxiang Agarwood, roots in spirited form, porcelain and even bronze in rock forms. The lapis was carved into a mountain form with stacked rocks...

Chinese guardian lions, or imperial guardian lions, are a traditional Chinese architectural ornament. Typically made of stone, they are also known as stone lions or shishi (石獅; shíshī). They are known in colloquial English as lion dogs or foo dogs / fu dogs. The concept, which originated and became popular in Chinese Buddhism, features a pair of highly stylized lions—often one male with a ball and one female with a cub—which were thought to protect the building from harmful spiritual influences and harmful people that might be a threat. Used in imperial Chinese palaces and tombs, the lions subsequently spread to other parts of Asia including Japan (see komainu), Korea, Philippines, Tibet, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Cambodia, Laos, and Malaysia. There has been extensive interaction between Chinese mythology and Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Elements of pre-Han dynasty mythology such as those in Classic of Mountains and Seas were adapted into these belief systems as they developed (in the case of Taoism), or were assimilated into Chinese culture (in the case of Buddhism). Elements from the teachings and beliefs of these systems became incorporated into Chinese mythology. For example, the Taoist belief of a spiritual Paradise became incorporated into mythology as the place where immortals and deities used to dwell. Sometimes mythological and religious ideas have become widespread across China's many regions and diverse ethnic societies. In other cases, beliefs are more limited to certain social groups, for example, the veneration of white stones by the Qiang. One mythological theme that has a long history and many variations involves a shamanic world view, for example in the cases of Mongolian shamanism among the Mongols, Hmong shamanism among the Miao people, and the shamanic beliefs of the Qing dynasty from 1643 to 1912, derived from the Manchus. Politically, mythology was often used to legitimize the dynasties of China, with the founding house of a dynasty claiming a divine descent. Mythology and philosophy. Further information: Chinese philosophy True mythology is distinguished from philosophical treatises and theories. Elaborations on the Wu Xing are not really part of mythology, although belief in five elements could appear. The Hundred Schools of Thought is a phrase suggesting the diversity of philosophical thought that developed during the Warring States of China. Then, and subsequently, philosophical movements had a complicated relationship with mythology. However, as far as they influence or are influenced by mythology, divides the philosophical camps into two rough halves, a Liberal group and a Conservative group. The liberal group being associated with the idea of individuality and change, for example as seen in the mythology of divination in China, such as the mythology of the dragon horse that delivered the eight bagua diagrams to Fu Xi, and methods of individual empowerment as seen in the Yi Jing (Book of Changes). The Liberal tendency is towards individual freedom, Daoism, and Nature. The relationship of the Conservative philosophies to mythology is seen in the legendary Nine Tripod Cauldrons, mythology about the emperors and central bureaucratic governance, Confucianism, written histories, ceremonial observances, subordination of the individual to the social groups of family and state, and a fixation on stability and enduring institutions. The distinction between the Liberal and Conservative is very general, but important in Chinese thought. Contradictions can be found in the details, however these are often traditional, such as the embrace by Confucius of the philosophical aspects of the Yi Jing, and the back-and-forth about the Mandate of Heaven wherein one dynasty ends and another begins based according to accounts (some of heavily mythological) where the Way of Heaven results in change, but then a new ethical stable dynasty becomes established. Examples of this include the stories of Yi Yin, Tang of Shang and Jie of Xia or the similar fantastic stories around Duke of Zhou and King Zhou of Shang. Mythology exists in relationship with other aspects of society and culture, such as ritual. Various rituals are explained by mythology. For example, the ritual burning of mortuary banknotes (Hell Money), lighting fireworks, and so on. A good example of the relationship of Chinese mythology and ritual is the Yubu, also known as the Steps or Paces of Yu. During the course of his activities in controlling the Great Flood, Yu was supposed to have so fatigued himself that he lost all the hair from his legs and developed a serious limp. Daoist practitioners sometimes incorporate a curiously choreographed pedal locomotion into various rituals. Mythology and practice, one explains the other: in these rituals, the sacred time of Yu merges with the sacral practice of the present. Various ideas about the nature of the earth, the universe, and their relationship to each other have historically existed as either a background or a focus of mythologies. One typical view is of a square earth separated from a round sky by sky pillars (mountains, trees, or undefined). Above the sky is the realm of Heaven, often viewed of as a vast area, with many inhabitants. Often the heavenly inhabitants are thought to be of an "as above so below" nature, their lives and social arrangements being parallel to those on earth, with a hierarchical government run by a supreme emperor, many palaces and lesser dwellings, a vast bureaucracy of many functions, clerks, guards, and servants. Below was a vast under ground land, also known as Diyu, Yellow Springs, Hell, and other terms. As time progressed, the idea of an underground land in which the souls of the departed were punished for their misdeeds during life became explicit, related to developments in Daoism and Buddhism. The underground world also came to be conceived of as inhabited by a vast bureaucracy, with kings, judges, torturers, conductors of souls, minor bureaucrats, recording secretaries, similar to the structure of society in the Middle Kingdom (earthly China). Chinese temple Dogs...

This is a late 19th century pair of the iconic Chinese "Green Parrots". The pair is in good condition considering its more than 100 years of use. This pai...

This Seal is in Soapstone. It has been made, in China circa 1880. Brown color.  

These guardian statues were traditionally found standing sentry in front of palaces, temples, and homes of the elite across many parts of Asia. These ...

A small desk top Chinese scholar stones (also known as Gong Shi, meditation stone and spirit rock) on a fitted display wood stand circa 19th century. This is likely a grey Lingbi type stone with subtle arch mimics a horizontal mountain range. The wrinkles and folds on the greyish black surface were perfectly weathered by elements for millenniums. Smooth and rugged at the same time, the mountain range shows a poetic formation that was often depicted in the ink scroll...

Chinese carved red coral lady with flowers and flowing robes. Very fine work from Qing Dynasty. Weight 145g.

An extraordinary specimen created by nature millions of years ago, this large and stunning Chinese black chrysanthemum stone features white crystalline mineral (calcite and chalcedon...

19th Chinese carved hardwood figure of an immortal holding a bat, well carved with inlaid bone eyes and teeth.   

Spherical vase forming planter cloisonné decorated with polychrome floral motifs, Top without base 40 cm, diameter 46 cm 19th century Good condition.

Pair of hard stone chop seals decorated with foo dogs. Two lines of calligraphy across the front. Incised seal on the bottoms.   

Chinese guardian lions in original condition. The lions are made from wood and were handmade sometime during the 19th century in China. The guard...

Bronze sculpture, late 19th century, Asia Measures: H 19cm, W 15cm, W 8cm.

A large and dramatic Chinese Gongshi (known as meditation stone or spirit stone) from Taihu (Lake Tai) balanced on display stand. This scholar rock features a relatively red and poro...

Votive Plaque with Walking Buddha in Sukhothai Style, Thailand, 18th or 19th century, cast in relief from a metal alloy of tin and lead with an iron lik...

Chinese Rosewood brush holder (pen pot) circa late Qing dynasty. Finely carved on surface with a sitting Buddha on lotus throne holding his hands in Vitarka mu...

Unique hand carved wood trade sign from China, 1890s. The sign with hand carved Chinese lettering with gilt highlights. The black background with a gilt border.

Gorgeous and unusual pair of wood carvings in the Chinese taste, set in beautiful, gold-colored, faux-bamboo frames.