One Of A Kind Chinese Antique Hand Carved Wooly Mammoth Ivory Tusk Sculptures

When we see one of the hand carved woolly mammoth tusk sculptures created by Chinese artisans, one cannot help but be overwhelmed by the intricateness of the design and the incredible beauty of the sculpture. This same feeling would also apply when viewing any of the other amazingly intricate types of sculpture created by Chinese artisans. Such varying materials as soapstone, gold, and jade also come to mind when considering fine Chinese sculpture.

But many would agree that there are few sculptures as breathtaking and difficult to create as those made from woolly mammoth tusks. To begin with, an artisan is working with a piece of material that is already fragile by nature, ivory. Add to that the fact that the tusk is at least tens of thousands of years old being made from the tusk of an extinct creature, and it is clear that this is truly a difficult, painstaking, and ancient for of art. Ivory also has certain types of lines in it that were created when it was formed in the animal's mouth. These lines make it even more difficult to carve the material without causing breakage.

There are many sources for very beautiful ivory tusk carvings. Several pieces can be found on d- vers.com, where one can enter the search term "woolly mammoth," or simply click here to be directed to that page.

Ivoryandart.com also has a lovely collection of woolly mammoth tusk carving that are more contemporary, and tide-mammoth.com has a large collection of netsuke carvings as well as jewelry and small figurines.

Antique Kwan Yin Statues and Other Buddhist Antique Statuary

In Chinese art and sculpture, the theme of Buddha and bodhisattvas frequently recurs. A bodhisattva is an awakened person to whom the possibility of ultimate liberation in nirvana is possible. However, in the tradition of love and compassion first practiced by the Buddha, they have decided to continue to be reborn on Earth to help the rest of humanity along the path to enlightenment.

For centuries, Buddhists have created statues to represent the Buddha or the Boddhisattvas to aid people in devotion and mediation. Among the most popular Boddhisattvas is Kwan Yin. She is referred to as the Goddess of Mercy, and is associated with compassion.

Many of the Buddhist statues that one can find show the Buddha seated in a lotus posture with his hands raised in a gesture of blessing. The boddhisattvas are similarly represented in sculpture. Statues of the Buddha and of Kwan Yin are made of many materials, including gold, silver, soapstone, jadeite or crystal, and other natural materials.

Many practicing Buddhists find it helpful to focus on a statue of the Buddha while meditating. Offerings are also often placed before such statues. Neither the Buddha nor the bodhisattvas are worshiped as gods or goddesses. However, their statues provide a form of spiritual practice designed to generate humility and appreciation(1).

Buddhism is a spiritual practice, but is not a religion. If you choose to decorate your home with Buddhist statues, either as a form of spiritual practice or as simply an expression of your personal taste, it is entirely your own individual choice.

(1)http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art48856.asp