Buddha's Hand Citron Offering Fruit

Alongside spiritual icons and incense burners, altars used for ancestor worship were ritually laden with offerings of food and ripe fruits. Known as an offering fruit, this ceramic Buddha's hand citron would have been used as an evergreen alternative to fresh fruits during cold seasons. Considered an auspicious Buddhist offering and a symbol of wealth, the fingered citron is named for its resemblance to the Buddha's hand in prayer, in the gesture of a Buddhist mudra. Dated to the early 20th century, the citron figurine is brushed with vibrant yellow and green glaze and adds a wonderful pop of color to a bookcase or table arrangement.