Chinese Goose Basket Hand Carved, Long Neck and Head Used As a Handle.
Chinese Goose Basket, Hand Carved, The Long Neck and Head Is Used As a Handle To Carry Items Within Basket.
Originally, a man who wished to marry would purchase pairs of live ducks or geese to give as a gift to the family of the prospective bride. That tradition gave way to using wooden ducks in place of live animals. A couple would select a man to carve their wedding ducks who was honourable and a good friend. Additionally, the man should have "five fortunes" to be a suitable carver because it was believed that these fortunes would be imparted to the ducks and transferred to the couple who received them. The five fortunes of the carver are that he should:
- Be wealthy.
- Be in good health.
- Have a good wife.
- Not have been divorced, nor should he have relatives who have been divorced.
- Have many sons.
The fifth fortune about the sons
Is consistent with the Confucian emphasis on family strength and proliferation. This fortune also indicates that the man must maintain a good relationship with all of his sons. If the man has many children, but have only two are with him when he dies, he can only say he has two children.
While carving, the man would pray for happiness, peace, prosperity, and abundant offspring. The carver would do the work for free because it was considered an honour to be asked to carve wedding ducks. He should also not carve more than one set of ducks in his lifetime because with each carving he shares some of his five fortunes.
Item Code - WOO3A222HAE
Width: 7 5/8" Height: 9 5/8" Depth: 6 1/2" Weight: 284 g
