Bronze God of Wealth Altar Figure

No idol in China is more widely worshiped than Caishen, the God of Wealth. His shrine can be found in nearly every home, his image set beside ancestors and other Daoist deities, and he is particularly worshiped during the Lunar New Year. This 19th-century Caishen figure would have been part of such a shrine, placed upon a traditional altar table. Cast in bronze, the deity's robes have a natural, elegant drape and the headpiece is exquisitely detailed. The seated figure would have held a place of honor in the home, surrounded by incense and offerings on the family’s altar.