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Qing Bat Motif Mirror browse these categories for related items... All Items: Antiques:Regional Art:Asian:Chinese:Architectural Elements: Pre 1900: item # 259258 Please refer to our stock # 58-38 when inquiring.
Silk Road Gallery PO Box 2175 Branford, Connecticut 06405, USA (203) 208-0771 Guest Book $450 |
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| This 19th century Chinese carved wood architectural panel, once part of a large, richly decorated canopied marriage bed, has been fitted with a mirror. The gilded carvings of a bat and two fish on the lower part of the panel are examples of the use in China during the Qing Dynasty of symbols derived from homonyms to convey important wishes for the future. The similar sounds of the characters for "bat" and "happiness," both pronounced "fu," resulted in a fondness for bat carvings that were hoped would bring happiness to a household. The sound for the character for fish, "yu," and the character for abundance, also "yu," led to the use of fish carvings as emblems of wealth. Fish were thought to be particularly appropriate symbols for newly married couples because they were plentiful and so signified plenty, and also because they were said to swim in pairs. This panel, one of several with bat and fish carvings that were reclaimed from a large marriage bed, is in very good condition. Dimensions: height 42" (107 cm), width 14" (36 cm), depth 2" (5 cm). | |||||||||
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