W150xL110xD70mm, India
Today for the ASIAN FOLKCRAFT we have a tool.
This is a well used piece of bunta, the wooden stamp used for fabric printng in India.
This beautiful video explains how the stamp is carved and how the printing is done.
we are a shop in hong kong specialising in asian folk art since 1969
Archives for category: fabric
W300xL250mm, China
When I saw this bag, I felt the tribal craft has really adapted to the new material and function. Carrying on the bold embroidery tradition, it has also made use of fluorescent beads and pom-poms, compartments for wallets and travelling pass.
DIA180(L280mm), Hong Kong
For the celebration of the arrival of 2013, the Something Old Something New jewellery collection brings you the lucky blessing of the kirin boy. The kirin, a mystical creature which the Chinese believe to have magical power, it also took on the role of the stork for delivery babies. This role was attributed to the kirin from the legend of Confucius at the time before he was born; one night a kirin with a scroll in his mouth appeared in front of his parents’ house, the scroll, an announcement from heaven, has the words “he will be a wise man with good morality, though he does not have a throne, he has the virtue of a king”. The next morning, the kirin disappeared and Confucius was born, sine then the kirin is associated with delivering babies with talents. The kirin boy pendent, like the long life locket is a special blessing for the child wearing it.
Here is the “making off”, featuring an antique kirin boy silver pendent.
L50mm, China
Here are a set of Christmas tree ornaments made in the form of Chinese folk toys. Christmas trees were everywhere in Hong Kong since the beginning of December, but there are actually specific dates for both setting up and taking down of a Christmas tree.
Not to be brought or decorated until Christmas Eve (24th Dec),
to be removed after the 12th night (5th Jan)
If you have messed up with the first one, dont worry, just get the second date right.
Have a Merry X’Mas!
DIA165mm, Hong Kong
To keep everyone safe for the rumor of today being the end of the world, we have an old long life lockets for tonight’s post.
Long life lockets are normally given to a baby on its 100th day’s birthday by the grandmother as a blessing for the child. In old China when mortality rate is high, the locket is a symbol of locking the child’s life to this world. There are 4 words on this locket, “13 Tai Bao”, Tai Bao is a high level court official whose duty is to care and guide the emperor. Legend has it Guang Hui Wang has 13 sons who are on earth to care and guide humanity. The 13 Tai Bao is so well known for their protection that even a famous herbal tea for securing pregnancy is named after them.
See our other references of the long life lockets; Silver Necklace, Clay Doll – A Fu, Du Dou Embroidery, Locket.
DIA180mm, Hong Kong
Who needs pearl when you have mother of pearl!?
DIA160mm, Hong Kong
Another unique necklace for the Something Old Something New jewellery collection, string of irregular coral inter-winded together.
DIA160mm, Hong Kong
This neckwear has been sprinkled with a spoonful of jade beads.
Come to see our Something Old Something New Jewellery collection!
DIA160mm, Hong Kong
For the Mountain Folkcraft Something Old Something New Jewellery Collection, we have designed a series of unique neckwear and here is one of them.
Its ingredients are;
turquoise,
silver,
glass beads,
amber,
coral,
jade,
& lots of passion in design.
L250xW70mm, China
This is a pair of embroidery shoes of the Miao tribe (for more about Miao tribe shoes, see our earlier post, Embroidery Shoes). Today I would like to concentrate on the cloth sole of the shoes which is entirely handmade. Before rubber and leather sole became popular in China, most of the soles are made with cloth, it is a common household practice, even mother remembers making shoes for herself in her childhood. Here is mom’s instruction:
- Save up old clothes and off cuts for a year, so materials are ready for making new shoes for Chinese new year
- Cook up some glue with water and rice flour (the Chinese version of wall paper paste)
- On a flat board, applied glue to the edge of the board, then stretch the a large piece of cotton cloth, apply a layer of glue over it. On the second layer place smaller pieces of cloth, avoid any overlapping or gaps, apply a layer. On the top place a large piece of cotton, avoid creases, applied glue over it. Let dry for a night
- Use a newspaper to trace out the sole of the old pair of shoe, enlarge to suit. Prepare an addition one for a size larger.
- Cut out from the dried cloth pile 6 pieces from the larger template (large filler – LF), 7 from the smaller (small filler – SF) one and 2 smaller pieces for the heel (H). Put the pieces of the same size together, clamp them and give it a good trim so that they are the same size and shape. Reverse the template and cut out the soles for the other shoe.
- Take a piece from the large filler and mount a piece of cotton, wrapped the edges over to the top. This will become the bottom layer of the sole (BS), the piece that touches on the ground. Take the other 6 larger fillers and stick on a cotton piping around it.
- Then places the fillers in the order; BS-LF-SF-LF-H-SF-LF-SF-LF-SF-LF-H-SF-LF-SF-SF-SF. Stitch temporarily to hold them together, clamp it well and sew the edge with hemp string (you will need an awl for this). Then make uniform and small stitiches (as seen in the photo) throughout the whole of the sole.
- The completed sole is then brushed with warm water and covered with a blanket overnight.
- The next morning, the sole is compressed with a mallet and air dried.
- Now the sole is complete, all you need to do is the upper shoes and of course the embroidery …
