A SET OF SIX BRONZE TEMPLE STANDARDS CHINA, DATED GUANGXU 22ND YEAR, CORRESPONDING TO 1897

each crisply cast in the form of a triple-pointed lance-blade issuing from the mouth of a dragon, centered with crossed Buddhist 'Auspicious Objects' and emblems of the Daoist 'Eight Immortals', the tips ending in a ruyi-form cloud supporting one of the eight Immortals on an animal mount, the front of the faceted ringed socket incised with Li Longxi Tang jingfeng (respectfully offered to the Li Family Clan Temple), the back dated Guangxu ershier nian ji qiu ji dan (Twenty-second year of Guangxu, on an auspicious day in autumn), two additionally inscribed with the name and address of the maker (6)

Sotheby's New York, 16th March 1984, lot 131.

Following the order of the photo in the catalogue, from left to right: The first standard has a minor casting flaw to one of the lion mask handles on the socket. The second has a loss to the end of the ribbon on the left. The third has a loss to the tip of the ribbon on the left; all three have a loss to the attribute held by the immortal at the top. The fifth has a break to one of the tuft of hair around the dragon's cheek. The sixth has a loss to the end of the ribbon on the right and to the tip of one dragon horn. There is a crack to the center of the endless knot and a crack along the edge of the blade near the coin. All pieces have general signs of use and wear and come with wood mounts for hanging.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

These standards would originally have come in a set of eight. The mixture of Buddhist and Daoist symbols is not uncommon, especially since the standards were made for a family clan temple. Members of the temple would have hoped that their clan receive blessings from both Buddhist and Daoist deities. In grand temples such standards would have flanked the sides of the open courtyard leading up to the main altar, and would have been paraded during processions and festivals.

The inscription indicates that the standards were made in Guangzhou, by a shop called Jucheng Dian on Tianping Street.