W40xL80xH80mm, China
This little clay peacock toy has come to join in the birdy collection.
Archives for category: figurine
W40xD60xH60mm, China
How can we have a bird feeder without a bird? This is a pottery bird whistle toy with a beautiful green glaze.
W120xD100xH200mm, China
In the old days when free love was forbidden in China, all marriage proposals has to go through a matchmaker. Even when the couples are already in love with each other, one would still have to go through a matchmaker in order to make the marriage a proper one. The job of the matchmaker seems to be only opened to woman, apart from the proposing, they are also responsible for presenting the information of both families. In order to make the deal, the positive points are often emphasised and the weakness carefully put. Acting as the communicator for both families, she is also the co-ordinator, MC, organiser for the wedding.
The head of the figurine nods and the body wobbles resembling the matchmaker lady saying all the goodness about the marriage. The fan, of course, is the essential tool for the matchmaker, making sure everyone would stay cool during the big day.
W100xD100xH200mm, China
Today, the 8th day of lunar April, is the birthday of the Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama). According to the legend, on the night when Siddhartha was conceive, his mother Queen Maya has a dream. In her dream there was a white elephant with 6 tusks holding a lotus flower went circling around her 3 times and then entered her right side. The next morning Queen Maya told King Suddhodana the story and the King summoned the wise men to decipher the dream. It was predicted that the child would become a great king or a Buddha (the enlighten one).
This is a wooden figurine of the Buddha, the third eye (spiritual awakening) of the Buddha is represented by the inlay of a tiny pearl.
If you happens to be in Hong Kong click here and join in the celebration.
W80xH180mm, Sumatra, Indonesia
Apology for yesterday’s misinformation, this is actually the stopper of the guri guri potion container, a container of magic for the Batak tribe.
The magical potion is known as guri guri, used by the datu to perform good as well as magic with evil intention. The guri guri is one of the most sacred object of the datu. The figurine is a human riding on singa. Singa is a mythological creature that is benevolent and powerful, it is described to be part human, part buffalo, part crocodile.
L130xW50xH150mm, China
This is not a figurine on a merry go round but in fact a warrior at war. The themes of golden lacquered wood carving are usually based on stories in Chinese operas. This figurine is most probably from a decorative wall hangers depicting the fighting scene.
W100xD50xH130mm, China
This is no Easter bunny but the famous Lord Rabbit. It is a toy for the Mid Autumn (full moon) festival in the Beijing area. The Lord Rabbit figurine first appeared in the late Ming dynasty, it was mainly used for worshipping by the younger generations. It is believed that Chang E, the moon goddess, has a pet rabbit who is whiter than white jade as he was named as the Jade Rabbit. The Jade Rabbit was specialised in preparing the medicine (you might have seen images of him stirring the medicinal pot on the moon). Jade Rabbit worshipping has then been taken into moon worship and since rabbit has been kept as a household pet, out of respect for the Jade Rabbit god he was worshipped as the Lord Rabbit. By Qing dynasty Lord Rabbit has turned into a toy for the Mid Autumn festival. The folk story goes; once Beijing was infected by plague, almost all the household got sick, the moon goddess was sadden by the news and sent the Jade Rabbit to help cure the capital. At each household he healed he would turned down any gifts but instead borrow a new set of clothing. With the new clothing he would assume a different image for the next household, sometimes a female, sometimes a general etc. He would also take on different animals for transportation; a deer, a tiger, a horse etc., hence there are many different versions of his figurines.
W100xH240mm, The Philippines
The holy week (Mahál na Araw) is an important religious festival in the Philippines. The week starts from Palm Sunday (Linggo ng Palaspás), commemorating Jesus arriving Jerusalem where he begin his journey to the cross. On Maundy Thursday (Huwebes Santo), the start of the Triduum, shops and business will be closed until Black Saturday, local radio and tv station will either be off air out of respect or broadcast only religious programs. On Maundy Thursday the Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be attended; however for the faithfuls who observed the Visita Iglesia, beginning in the morning 7 churches will be visited. On Good Friday (Biyernes Santo) there will be street processions; the Way of the Cross commemorating Jesus’ last words and the passion play Senákulo, where the faithful men will portray the passion of Jesus Christ, his trial, suffering and his death. As an expression of penance some devotees will self flagellate and some will even be nailed to the cross. This is followed by chantings of pabasa (the life, passion, death and resurrection of Christ). Near the evening dead images of Jesus will be parade in the funeral procession (Prusisyon ng Sto. Entierro). On Holy Saturday (Sabado de Gloria), a day of silence and solem, at the end of the day the mass of Easter Vigil will make the first celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. Easter Sunday(Linggo ng Pagkabuhay) is a joyful day of celebrations, life size status of the resurrected Christ and Virgin Mary will be paraded and brought to the first of the churches, it is followed by the Easter Mass.
W80xD60xH130mm, China
This is a toy from the famous Nie estate village, it is believed in the Ming dynasty a man named Nie arrived from He Bei on the run from a business failure. On his desperation he arrived with his wife to a village in Shan Dong, even exhausted and penniless his mind was still reminiscent on the days of high life. He grabbed a handful of clay and formed it in a clay tin, he then filled it with a bit fireworks and left the top open with a small hole. Upon ignition, there comes an amazing fireworks display, it instantly became a hit and he name it Guo Zi Hua (fireworks in a pot). It soon turned into a speciality of the village, the clay figure became more decorative and take on figurines of humans and different animals, so after the display of the fireworks, one get to keep a clay toy as well. As time goes by the fireworks were taken out and the focus started on the clay figurine toy itself.
This is a pair of clay lions which about from being a toy also can function as bookends.
W20xH120mm, China
Guan Shi Yin (Avalokiteśvara) is a bohisattva who embodies the compassion of all buddhas, the Chinese name also suggests the observation of the mankind. In the Tong dynasty, the proud emperor Li Shi Min forbidden the use words “Shi” and “Man” in all text and that unfortunately included religion as well. The name was shortened to now more common shorten version Guan Yin. The dates for Guan Yin festivals are lunar 19th Feburary (birthday), lunar 19th June (enlightened), lunar 19th September (Bodhisattvahood).
Mountain Folkcraft 