Chinese Buddhist Stone Column, c. 1850

Passing through these impressive posts, a visitor to a Qing-dynasty estate would know he was entering someplace special. Used in a traditional courtyard entry to secure the doors as they swung open, these hand-carved posts are nonetheless ripe with symbolism. Double dragon medallions...

This 19th-century column base likely figured into the imposing surroundings of a Qing-dynasty courtyard, supporting a tall wooden beam as part of a grand entryway. Atop a square slab patterned with hash marks, sits an eight-sided base, carved with small footed legs to resemble a low kang table. Octagonal motifs are common in Chinese art, due to the auspicious nature of the number eight in traditional culture. The table-like base is carved with a decorative apron of intertwined vines and floral motifs. Tucked amidst garden plantings or placed indoors, this low column...

China Monumental Pair (2) Antique Stone “Spirit Pathway” Tigers, middle Qing period 1750-1850. Please view our video. Dimensions: 115cm, 46” high and 60cm, 24” in width. Likely utilized as spirit pathway tomb markers, these powerful, benign carved sitting effigies perched on haunches and front paws with round heads and faces exposing defined eye sockets, ears and two fangs a top bases that feature curled tails on side each whole atop a block shaped base and hand-carved from limestone whose surfaces show considerable weatherization from exposure and good age. Reference: 35 Years Collecting 35 Treasures, Schneible Fine Arts catalog Number 30, p. 66. Provenance: originally found in Fujian Province. Fujian has the distinction of being home to China’s last remaining wild tigers and famous “tiger” mountain. No wonder then that these early stone works...

Spectacular pair of Chinese Buddhist guardian temple foo dogs or foo lions intricately crafted from bronzed metal. The lions are depicted sitting with one having a paw on a ball or o...