Lot 183, Auction 4/20/2026: Chinese Qing Altar Deity – Queen Mother of the West

$455.00

In stock

East Asia, China, Qing Dynasty, ca. 1644 to 1912 CE. A carved wooden altar figure depicting the Heavenly Queen Mother, Xiwangmu, venerated in Taoist tradition and often enshrined in household or temple altars. She is shown seated on a low-backed throne, wearing flowing robes and a finely carved headdress adorned with a bird – likely a phoenix, the key symbol of divine feminine power in East Asian cosmology. The presence of this phoenix motif affirms the figure’s identity as the Queen Mother of the West, the matron of immortals and a central figure in Taoist belief. Her right hand is raised in a Taoist mudra of blessing or protection, while her left holds a small cup – possibly symbolizing libation or the mythical elixir of immortality. The verso features a deep, rectangular niche, once used to house paper prayers, spirit tablets, or ritual offerings, reinforcing its devotional function. Traces of original lacquer and pigment remain across the surface, lending the figure a rich, timeworn patina and evidence of long veneration. Size: 5″ W x 11″ H (12.7 cm x 27.9 cm)

Condition: Head is reattached with visible breakline. Stable pressure fissures and abrasions. Dark patina.

Provenance: private Los Angeles, California, USA collection

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