Chinese Antique Hand Carved Mythical Winged Guardian Sculpture

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...

Important Chinese antique Daoist sculpture of the "Emperor of the North Pole", Hsuanwu or Hsuan Tien Shangti, Qing dynasty (1644-1911), hand-carved an...

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 ...

One of a kind. From western China and collected some 20 years ago, comes this large hand carved red sandstone Lohan or Monk sculpture dating to circa...

China antique monumental Pagoda Shrine with carved Lohans, 115" high, red sandstone, eight sections, Qing dynasty (1644-1911) This stone pagoda is a monumental work of art seldom seen in the west. Pagodas evolved from Indian stupas which were originally designed to hold the Buddha’s relics and textual paper sutras. This tiered tower composition became popular all over Asia and its architectural form differed from region to region. In China, its origins date to Buddhist missionaries who traveled the Silk Road. Early examples were built in temples but by the 13th century they were found outside the temple complex. Oldest examples had simple round or square bases and then later octagonal or more stylistic forms like the “censer” type of base on this pagoda. The 18 Arhats (lohans) portray Buddha’s messengers and each Lohan cylindrical tier is unique. This tour de force could serve as the centerpiece in the finest indoor space, or private or public Chinese or Asian inspired garden or Buddhist art collection. Photographs taken in natural light. Provenance: Private New England Collection acquired in 2005 in China from private collection Cheng Du, Sichuan Province. About Pagodas: Chinese pagoda towers...

Hand-carved from a single block of limestone, this stone sculpture depicts a reclining mythical fu dog lion. Also known as shizi, fu lions such as this were traditionally placed besi...

Hand-carved from a single block of limestone, this stone fu dog sits at attention as a watchful guardian of the home. He exudes a remarkable sense of life and energy - crouched on al...

A Chinese vintage carved stone seated monk sculpture from the mid-20th century, carrying objects in his hands. Created in China, this vintage carved stone ...

Hand-carved from solid limestone, these mythical figures are qilin, hybrid creatures from Chinese mythology thought to bring luck and happiness. Crouching upon lotus plinths, these q...

Rare pair of Antique Carved Stone Garden Panels in all original very good condition having a desirable deep patina from decades of weathering. Calligraphic inscription along the top ...

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...