Pair of 19th Century Chinese Ancestor Portraits, Large Size, Framed

An unusual large Chinese altar table in hardwood, with simple straight legs and plank top, with an open apron. Would make a great dining table if r...

A fine, lifesize oil-on-canvas portrait of a young boy dressed in period attire, holding a book titled “Dictionaire de France” In a period appropriate giltwood frame. Empire period, ...

A unique pair of 19th century French tole oil lamps from the end of the Empire period, decorated in yellow painted finish with transferred lithograph scenes of country life, electrif...

A charming child’s size “Voltaire” chair in beech with antique leather upholstery. Named for a similar chair seen in a portrait of the writer Voltaire, ...

Believing that the departed continue to hold influence over the lives of the living, many Chinese households honor their ancestors in private family rituals, invoking their spirits for long life, health, and prosperity. Commemorative portraits, which came into vogue in the late Ming and Qing dynasties, were commissioned specifically for ancestor worship and were believed to house the spirits of the deceased. When properly cared for, one's ancestors were believed to be a powerful source of honor, protection, and good luck. This pair of ancestor portraits was hand-painted in the late-19th century and beautifully depicts a Qing-dynasty couple. While some ancestral portraits offer a more stylized representation of one's ancestors, this particular pair is painted with incredible realism and life-like expressions. Rather than depict the pair in a regal hall wearing elaborate finery, the couple is shown in a quiet home environment, seated at either end of a square tea table. Their surroundings are minimal, practically undecorated, and they wear simple, matching blue silk robes. Two young children stand beside them, each trying to capture the attention of their grandparent. We love the painting's close attention to detail and the glimpse it offers of Qing-dynasty interiors - from the carved apron of the marble-top table to the red silk lotus slippers...

Hand-Painted on silk, Chinese households honor their ancestors in private family rituals, invoking their spirits for long life, health, and prosperity. Commemorative portraits, which...

Hand-Painted on silk, Chinese households honor their ancestors in private family rituals, invoking their spirits for long life, health, and prosperity. Commemorative portraits, which...

Chinese households honor their ancestors in private family rituals, invoking their spirits for long life, health, and prosperity. Commemorative portraits, which came into vogue in th...