Posted 6 years ago
ho2cultcha
(5042 items)
i'd love to learn more about this piece. it's very well-made of silk. but i have no idea what it was used for or who they are or anything. please help shed some light on it if you know!
Silk figures 8 of them on an octagon - who? when? where? | ||
| Asian Antiques2574 of 10382 |  |  |
Has it got a base?
Seems to represent the 8 Chinese Buddhist immortals or gods. Each hold an implement that represents their role. This type of textile artistry was an export item, and demonstrated their skill at decorating using silk as the material.
I think it's gorgeous, each figure is wonderful in their colorful spendor, this 8 sided item may have had a special stand to display it.
thank you Adele and truth! it did have a base from the looks of it, but that's no longer there. there are 3 women on this and i thought 7 of the immortals were men and one transgender. ??
I know it's a bit mundane, but I thought waste paper basket when I saw it!
ho2, good point, looks like there was a mix of dieties, the female with the lotus on the shoulder would be Guyanin, goddess of purity and innocence. Seems there was so creative license here, and we would not know the difference in the West. (I saw 8 seemed plausible without looking too closely)
thanks truth and Adele! mundane is cool. i always seem to find these kind of mysteries. half the fun!
Hi again ho2, was just browsing in my Sandra Andacht book, ORIENTAL DECORATIVE ARTS, which is full of interesting information nobody else has provided.
Your figures each hold the 8 Taoist attributes (symbols) of the Immortals, here is how she lists them by naming what the object is and for which immortal being's name, with drawings, it does not say or show a person. 1. sword 2.double gourd 3. lotus pod 4. flute 5. bamboo tubes and rods 6. fan 7. castanets 8. basket of peaches. Sorry for my previous infor that was faulty, memory is not what it used to be.
I don't know if you have this soft cover book, pub in 1997. It also has a chapter about Awaji pottery pieces. You might like to have it. :-)