Buddhist altar of carved wood, with jade Buddhas, Qing dynasty.

Altar made of carved wood to hold up to twelve small figures. It preserves three carved jade figures representing a seated Buddha. On the back it has a poem, a signature and a seal. The characters are carved into the wood and filled with gilding. The signature reads 乾隆己酉御题 (Qianlong, Jiyou year, imperial title). The Jiyou year of the Qianlong period corresponds to the year 1789.

It highlights a frieze made of carved wood with traces of polychrome depicting sea dragons surrounding a large flaming pearl. The rest of the decoration is carved on the base and corners, and represents decorative borders. There are also some branches carved and filled in gold in the spandrels of the altar.

Size: 42.50 x 13.60 x 46.60 cm; Weight: 8085 g