Description: Pair of Chinese Ancestor Portraits, 18th/19th Century ink and color on paper A very fine pair of Chinese late Qing dynasty ancestor portraits showing a senior official and his wife. Both sitters of respectable age, seated on wooden chairs, the man with a mustache wearing a hat and richly ornamented court dress, the coat or pufa with a buzi or Mandarin square featuring a bird identifying him as a senior civil official, his wife with hair worn up, earrings and pufa and also with buzi ornamented with a bird. visible image measures approximately: 14 5/8" W x 26 1/2" Hframe measures approximately: 25 1/2" W x 37 1/2" H These extremely fine Chinese commemorative portraits, commonly referred to as ancestor paintings, were painted specifically for use in ancestral worship since it was assumed that the power of the living person resided in their portrait after death. The Chinese have long had a profound connection to their forebears in the belief that death does not curtail a person’s relationship with the living and that, if properly worshipped and honoured in private family rituals, the spirits of their ancestors can bring them health, long life, prosperity and children, who will someday similarly honour their parents. In Imperial China and, as part of their sacred family duty to care for the spirits of their deceased ancestors, sons of all classes, paid homage to their ancestors in ritual ceremonies in which they placed food offerings before the portraits.
Price: 3250 USD
Location: Chicago, Illinois
End Time: 2024-12-24T04:10:47.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Region of Origin: China
Primary Material: Paper
Original/Reproduction: Antique Original
Color: Multi-Color
