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Carved Panel With Chinese Longevity Symbols browse these categories for related items... All Items: Archives:Regional Art:Asian:Chinese: Pre 1910: item # 703045 Please refer to our stock # 54-68 when inquiring.
Silk Road Gallery PO Box 2175 Branford, Connecticut 06405, USA (203) 208-0771 Guest Book SOLD |
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| A wood panel carved in relief conveys wishes for a long and joyous life with five familiar Chinese symbols for longevity. The late 19th/early 20th century panel once was part of a decorative screen or perhaps a large piece of furniture. Framed, the carving becomes an unusual and handsome representation of wishes for good fortune. The symbols are carved within a cartouche and have the supernatural quality of Chinese folklore. A fox in a pine tree takes on a half-human form, relating to Chinese folk tales about foxes assuming numerous fantastic shapes during their reputedly 1000-year lifetimes. The pine tree, because it is evergreen, is a classic longevity emblem. A large and elegant bat at right in the carving symbolizes both longevity and joy in China because bat and happiness characters are homonyms, both pronounced "fu." Centering the carving is a deer, which represents longevity because it is said to regularly dine on the sacred fungus of immortality. On the left are branches with plum blossoms, symbolizing long life because the flowers appear on bare, leafless branches. The long-tailed bird may have been a local longevity emblem or may have been added for balance. The carving is in excellent condition. The frame is contemporary. Dimensions with frame: height 7-1/2" (19 cm), width 14" (36 cm). | |||||||||
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