Qing Dynasty Wooden Figure of a House God

Qing dynasty, 19th century or earlier, China.

Lovely wooden temple or house god figure. The Qing dynasty (Qīng cháo), officially the Great Qing (also sometimes referred to as the Manchu dynasty) was the last imperial dynasty in China, lasting from 1644 to 1912. Wooden house gods were part of Chinese religion. There are many hundreds of gods and deities, often having a small cavity in the back sealed with a wooden bung, which would contain sacrifical materials such as a live insects (as it was thought that this would inject life into the figure), written prayers, rice grains, spices, textile fragments etc.

Fascinating, small-sized altar god depicts noble man, possibly a monk or ancestral figure. Finely detailed and hand-carved from a single block of hard, but relatively light wood. Traces of black lacquer or paint. Moderate condition. Age-related wear and abrasion. One hand missing. Paint loss. Deep dark rich patina. Size approx. 13,0cm x 3,0cm x 1,7cm (stand included). 

Provenance: Dutch private collection