Chinese Tang Dyn. Matching Buddhist Lotus Blossom Set: Oil Lamp, Bowl & Vase

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Chinese Tang Dyn. Matching Buddhist Lotus Blossom Set: Oil Lamp, Bowl & Vase:
$8750.00

ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS

Artifacts, Antiques, & Fine Collectibles

Rare Tang DynastyPorcelain Set

Oil Lamp, Bowl & Flower Vase

Three-Piece BuddhistLotus Blossom Matching Set

c. Sui or TangDynasty

6th-8th Century

\"In esoteric Buddhism, the heart of the beings is like anunopened lotus:

when the virtues of the Buddha develop therein, the lotusblossoms;

that is why the Buddha sits on a lotus bloom.\"

~An unknown Buddhist Scholar

This glazed stoneware lamp stand, vase, and bowl are beingoffered as a RARE, matched, three-piece set.They date to approximately China’s Sui Dynasty (581-618) or the earlyTang Dynasty (618-907). The lotusblossom motiff of hundreds of maticulsouly painted green lotus leaves is likelythe influence of the Buddhist religion that had come from India and that wasflourishing in China at this time. Listed below is a brief summary of the threeitems included in this Museum Quality set of Sui/Tang stoneware pottery:

1.This elegant lamp stand with a finger-ring holder is shapedand painted with a green, lotus blossom motif.The spreading pedestal footed base supports a shallow drip-pan dish thatin turn has a centered column, which supports the smaller lotus blossom shapeddish that would have held the famible oil to light the lamp or perhaps a singlelotus blossom that would signify enlightenment. Each of the two lotus-shaped bowls on the lampare beautifully painted with pedals that appear to be almost in 3-D. The cylindrical column rising from the centerof the bowl is glazed with a verticle, stem-like, yellowish brown underglaze. The entire lamp stand appears to be coveredwith a high-gloss, clear glaze. ApproximateMeasurements: 3.3” (84 mm) high x 3.4” (87 mm) in diameter for the larger,lower drip bowl. It weighs about 5.8 oz. (164 grams).

2.The lovely lotus blossom glazed bowl measures about 4.6” (117mm) in diameter x 1.9 (47 mm)” tall and weighs about 5.4 oz. (152 gr.). It is beautifully painted with hundreds ofindividual lotus blossom petals that are accented with black edges; the stuningeffect creats almost a 3-D image when view in person. It was almost certainly created by the sameskilled artist that decorated the matching lamp stand and vase. It has the same high-gloss overglaze as theother two pieces.

3.And lastly, the third piece of this amazing matched set is a “MonkeyKing” Lotus Vase that is likely held a single lotus blossom. It has two, monkey faces as small decorationson the top that represent the famous Monkey King of China’s Tang Dynasty that withthe monk Xuanzang brought the famous Sutras books from India (which was called Tianzhu) to China. To make sure that the monk can make for the Westto get the Sutras, Buddha had arranged for Monkey King to become the monk\'sescort in the capacity of his disciple. This vase symbolizes that momentiousjourney that safely brought the word of Buddha to China. The monkeys also symbolizes the “Mind Monkey”(in Chinese \"Mind-monkey\" 心猿 ), which is anexemplary animal metaphor and philosphy that is a metaphor for long life. This small vase measures about 4.2” indiameter x 1.4” tall and weighs just 10.9 oz. (308 grams.

Provenance: All threeitems acquired from private collections in Beijing, China, prior to 1970 andare guaranteed to be authentic and original.

This matched T\'ang set has an estimated value at sale of $35,000 to $40,000!

Chinese Lamps

{Courtsey of a 2008 Exhibition of Chinese Oil Lamps at theNational Museum of History, China}

In Chinese history, the oil lamp is not only a practical toolfor daily use, but it also reflects the society, economy, culture, and popularcustoms of each dynasty. The lamp originated from the discovery of fire and of human’sneed for a light source. An oil tray, fuel, and a wick are all that a basic oillamp requires to function, but the craft of oil lamps in China eventuallydeveloped into a union between practicality and esthetics.

The earliest lamps were similar in appearance to theporcelain food container/vessel “dou”with an oil tray on top connected by a column to the base. Although itsconstruction was simple, it was the basic, conventional model for Chinese oillamps. Oil lamps developed to the point where they were no longer justpractical objects from the Spring and Autumn Period to the Han Dynasty. Alongwith other vessels, oil lamps became the sacrificial vessels of the era, whichreflected the rules, regulations, and laws in society and politics.

During the Wei, Jin, and Southern & Northern Dynasties,following the technological maturity of celadon ceramics, celadon oil lampsbegan to replace bronze oil lamps. Because the material costs of celadon oillamps were low, the designs of the oil lamps became more complex anddecorative, making it a popular item among the common folk.

Between the Late-Sui and the Early-Tang Dynasties, makersbegan using new materials to construct oil lamps, including copper, iron, tin,silver, jade, stone, wood, and glass. During the Song Dynasty, each kilnproduced a unique type of ceramic oil lamp, as a result of the developingceramic industry, and the oil lamps of the Liao Dynasty displayed thecharacteristics of the ethnic minorities.

Finally, during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, blue-and-whiteporcelain and famille rose porcelain oil lamps became the new style.Thereafter, foreign oil lamps began influencing Chinese oil lamps, and theemergence of incandescent lamps in the twentieth century finally ended theseveral thousand years of oil lamp history.

Our museum particularly would like to thank the Chang &Fung Art Collections, among others, for its participation and assistance injointly creating this display of approximately 100 oil lamps from across thedynasties.

Ref: Exhibition of Chinese Oil Lamps at the National Museumof History, China

2008.08.20 - 2008.09.14.

Color Symbolismin Buddhism:

The colors usedin this Lotus Lamp were not chosen just for their beauty, but also for theirsymbolism in the Buddhist religion. So, color symbolism is used in a widevariety of fascinating ways in Buddhist art and ritual.In Buddhism, eachof five colors (pancha-varna: which are Blue, Black, Red, Green andYellow) symbolizes a state of mind, a celestial Buddha, a part of the body, apart of the mantra wordHum, or a natural element. It is believedthat by meditating on the individual colors, which contain their respectiveessences and are associated with a particular Buddha or Bodhisattva, spiritualtransformations can be achieved. {Reference: Religion Facts--Buddhism.}

TheLotus’s meaning in Buddhism:Buddha is sometimes depicted sitting on a Lotus flower, symbolizing the one whoovercame the pain that prevails in the material world and became enlightened,just like the Lotus flower, which starts to grow in the dirty and muddy waterbut manages to surpass the water and produce a perfect flower. The water, inmany different belief systems, represents the material world, or the physicalrealm.

The lotus does not grow in Tibet and so Tibetan arthas only stylized versions of it, yet it appears frequently with Tibetandeities and among the Eight Auspicious Symbols. The flowers may also be depicted presented in a cup (like inthese two fantastic examples) or on a tray, as a symbol of homage.

Lotuses are Buddhist symbols of purity and\"spontaneous\" generation and hence symbolize divine birth. Accordingto the Lalitavistara, \"the spirit of the best of men is spotless, like thenew lotus in the [muddy] water which does not adhere to it. \" And, accordingto esoteric Buddhism, the heart of the beings is like an unopened lotus: whenthe virtues of the Buddha develop therein…the lotus blossoms. This is why theBuddha sits on a lotus in bloom.

The Monkey King Vase

The lovely Lotus Blossom Vase has two monkey heads surrounding the mouth of the vase. The vase was moulded in two sections and then assembled before firing. Hundreds of Lotus petals decorate the exterior of this stunning vase!

Monkey King, or known to the Chinese old and young as Xi You Ji (Journeyto the West), is one of the renowned classical Chinese novels dated back somefour hundred years ago, the other three being Shui Hu (The Water Margins),Hong Lou Meng (Dream of the Red Mansion), and San Guo (Romance ofThree Kingdoms).

Monkey King is based on a true story of a famous monk, Xuan Zang of theChinese Tang Dynasty (602-664). After a decade of trials and tribulations, hearrived on foot to what is today India, the birthplace of Buddhism. He wasthere for the true Buddhist holy books. When he returned, Xuan Zang translatedthe Sutras into Chinese, thus making a great contribution to the development ofBuddhism in China.

Monkey King is an allegorical rendition of the journey, mingled withChinese fables, fairy tales, legends, superstitions, popular beliefs, monsterstories, and whatever the author could find in the Taoist, Buddhist, andChinese popular religions. While average readers are fascinated with theprowess and wisdom of the Monkey King, many reviewers agree that theprotagonist embodies what the author tried to convey to his readers: arebellious spirit against the then untouchable feudal rulers.

The monkey is indeed rebellious. He was, according to thestory, born out of a rock, fertilized by the grace of Heaven and Earth. Beingextremely intelligent, he has learned all the magic tricks and gongfu from animmortal Taoist master. Now he can transform himself into seventy-two differentimages such as a tree, a bird, a beast of prey, or an insect that can sneakinto an enemy\'s body to fight him or her inside out. Using clouds as a vehicle,he can travel 108,000 miles at a single somersault.

He claims to be The King in defiance of the only authorityover the heaven, the seas, the earth and the subterranean world -- Yù Huáng DàDì, or \"The Great Emperor of Jade.\" That act of high treason, coupledwith complaints from the masters of the four seas and the Hell, incurs therelentless scourge of the heavenly army. In fact, the monkey has fought intothe ocean and seized the Dragon King\'s crown treasure: a huge gold-banded ironrod used as a ballast of the waters. Able to expand or shrink at his command,the iron rod becomes the monkey\'s favorite weapon in his later feats. The firsttest of its power came when the monkey stormed into hell and threatened theHadean king into sparing his and his followers mortal life so that they allcould enjoy eternity.

After many showdowns with the fearless Monkey King, theheavenly army have suffered numerous humiliating defeats. The celestial monarchhas but to give the dove faction a chance to try their appeasement strategy—tooffer the monkey an official title in heaven with little authority. When he haslearned the truth that he is nothing but an object of ridicule, the enraged monkeyrevolts, fighting all his way back to earth to resume his original claim as TheKing.

Please see photos for details as they are part of the description. Photos taken indoors and outdoors. Thank You!

This RARE T\'ang porcelain set was obtained from a privatecollector who once lived in Beijing, China, and this is the first time it is being offeredfor sale in the United States.

ESTIMATED VALUE

This matched T\'ang set has an estimated value at sale of $35,000 to $40,000!

You can purchase it on for a fraction of that price!

Remember,on you pay no 20% buyer’s premium on the sale price! So, if this listed set sold at an expensive sale house for $40,000, youthe buyer would save the 22% buyer’s premium of $8,800 over what you would have topay if you purchased the exact same item on . never charges a buyer’s premium; onlythe seller pays a final value premium. Yetanother reason to shop for fine antiquities on and not at expensivesale houses.

Please look carefully at thephotos, taken with a macro lens, since they are part of the description.

It would make a wonderful addition to your collection or a Super gift!

The pink rose and wood stands are not part of the sale, just there to give you a perspective and a good view of item.

And please ask any questions before you buy.

Thanks!