Late 19th or early 20th century, carved wood with polychrome pigments and gilt lacquer, each crane painted white and standing atop a gilt red turtle base, the cranes have a graceful arched neck and elegant flowing wings that sweep behind, gilt accents to the wings and feathers on the necks give these temple sculptures an elegant and ethereal aura. These sculptures would have originally graced a Buddhist temple in Vietnam, the crane on the back of the tortoise symbolizes longevity and happiness. The tortoise is believed to live ten thousand years, and the crane one thousand years.


Each 31 1/4 x 6 x 16 in.

Private Collection

Purchase from a private collection in Hanoi, Vietnam.


Multiple breaks with repairs and restoration; some cracking and flaking to pigments and gold lacquer with areas of loss.