W70xD50xH150mm, Macau
This dragon and tiger rider was an ancestral saint that was kept at the alter of the junk boat for keeping the fisherman’s journey safe. The multiple faces offer a supernatural power for this ancestral saint which is an usual expression for these figurines. Or would the fisherman had been to Bangkok on one of their fishing spree and got their inspiration from the famous Erawan Shrine?
Click here to see our other junk boat gods.
L460xD180xH650mm, China
This antique lacquer figurine is that of the Bodhisattva Manjusri (文殊菩薩). Bodhisattva Manjusri and Maitreya are the often depicted with the Gautama Buddha with Manjusri on the left and Maitreya on his right, representing wisdom and teaching receptively.
Mantra of Manjushri
The creature Bodhisattva Manjusri is riding is a green lion (suan ni), the 8th son of the dragon. He adores the incense and sitting so you will also be able to find him as a decoration for the feet of the incense burner.
W40xD50xH100mm, China
Like other forms of Chinese theater, the glove puppet follows the same cast catagories. This puppet head belongs to the Jing category (painted face), a forceful character and the sub category of Black Flower (Hei Hua) which denotes a strong temperament but integrity (a bit like Captain Haddock in the Tin Tin comic). Junior means a younger character, hence there is also Black Flower Senior who comes with beard. Hei Hua Junior is often cast as the talented officers for a respected official
W100xL120xH140mm, China
As the clay toys of Nie Jia Zhuang was selected as the Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage, it also signified that it is a dyeing art which is in need of protection. The making of clay toys in the area dated back to the Ming dynasty, folk song was sung about these colour clay toys. Up to the 80s, they were ever so popular, every kid would own one.
This roaring tiger, has a leather waist which forms as a bellow to the squeak inside the front half of the body.
W200xH250xD50mm, China
This clay wall hanger is the form of a tiger, it offers protection from the evils. In the rural area of Shaan Xi, before Chinese New Year every household would would be placed a new tiger hanger on the lintel of the door. The origin of the wall hanger came from the Ground Theatre (Di Xi), find any similarity?
W200xD150xH270mm, China
A delicate figurine of two pica pica (magpie) on a blossoming plum tree. The subject, a symbol of blessing, is often seen in painting, pottery and carvings; for the Chinese, the pica pica is bird of luck while the plum tree signified happiness, joy, peace, longevity and success. Here is a story about this lucky bird, in the Tong dynasty there was a man named Li Jing Yi. Outside Li’s house there was a pica pica nest on a tree, everyday he would feed the bird, after a while the bounding between the bird and Li grew. One day, out of the blue Li was arrested for a crime he did not commit, when he was most helpless in jail the pica pica came visited him and sang at the window for a long time. His was relieved by the bird’s visit and 3 days later, the good news about his release came. It is believed the bird can transformed as a imperial guard with the notice for his release. Since then, the pica pica is associated with the bearer of good news.
W250xD80xH220mm, Tibet
The Garuda is a mystical bird who appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythologies. An ancient symbol of the Hindu sun, Garuda is the vehicle of the god Vishnu and his wife. He has the golden body of a man, white face with an eagle’s beak,a pair of red wings, two horns, a crown on his head and eats naga (snakes) for a meal. In Buddhism, he is the vehicle of Vajrapani and the symbol of the transcendent Buddha Amoghasiddhi. In Tibetan Buddhism, Garuda fuses with the mythical Himalayan Khyung bird of fire and became a god both for Bon (ancient Tibetan religion) and Tibetan Buddism.
In the Tibetan legend, Garuda stole a jewel from Naga king of Mount Meru, he carefully swallow the jewel and later vomited out. (The jewel is on the crown of this figurine). It seems no coincident the Tibetan rememdy for snake bite is the vomit of the eagle.
ASIAN FOLKCRAFT COLLECTION
SOIL X MOUNTAIN FOLKCRAFT
DIA165mm, China
The figurines on this necklace used to be the ornaments of a child’s hat. A special hat would be made for the child’s birth, 100 days celebration and the first birthday. The hat is seen as a blessing for the child, depending on the gender, family social status, the design of the hat varies.
The gold plated enamel ornaments would have belongs to a hat of a wealth family. The 9 figurines are the 8 Immortals (one either side) + the god of Longevity (in the middle). The 8 Immortals are; Iron-Crutch Tie Guai Li, Philosopher Han Xiang Zi, Elder Zhang Guo Lao, Lan Cai He, Immortal Woman He Zian Gu, Leader Lu Dong Bin, Han Zhong Li and Royal Uncle Cao Guo Jiu, they are Taoist saints who are not very powerful and have a few human frailties. One of the many stories of the 8 Immortals is about their birthday wishes for the Queen Mother of the West and thus the appearance is associated with birthdays and blessings.
Here is a clip from the Xiang opera “8 Immortals birthday wishes for the Queen Mother of the West”
Collectible Jewellery
Something Old Something New
W90xH70mm, Hong Kong
This smart silver brooch is made from an original kirin boy pendant, a blessing pendant for the child. Legend had it that the kirin delivered the baby Confucius to his parents; by putting on the figurine of the kirin boy, the parents hope that their child will also turn out to be as bright as the scholar Confucius.
SOMETHING OLD SOMETHING NEW
COLLECTIBLE JEWELLERY COLLECTION
W130xD70xH400mm, Thailand
Tomorrow is the 2557th birthday of the Buddha, Vesakh, a holy day that commensurate the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha by Buddhist all over the world. The date of the celebration differ slightly throughout the different countries, 8th of lunar April, in Thailand for example, Vesakh is on the 24th May.
On this special day, the devoted Buddhist will observe the 8 Precepts:
If you happen to be in Hong Kong, join in the celebration.
ASIAN FOLKCRAFT COLLECTION
SOIL X MOUNTAIN FOLKCRAFT
Mountain Folkcraft 