W150xL200xH150mm, China
This is a hand built pottery; a woven basket in the form of a traditional Chinese bamboo creel.
Archives for the month of: November, 2011
Dia200mm, China
This is design of the scholar and the incense is a popular design of the De Hua pottery town, a town that has been making pottery since the Ming dynasty. Probably because it is situated close to the coast, by Qing dynasty their work are made mainly for export. The same design has also been recovered from the treasure of the Tek Sing shipwreck.
W150xH300mm, China
The traditional Chinese beds are almost like rooms on their own; there is an entrance through a gate at the front, the sides and the back are filled with wood carving panels or balustrade, even the roof are paneled. Unlike the western bed where the user can get on from 2 sides and the end if they so want to, the chinese bed can only be entranced from one side. If a couple were on the bed, the one sleeping inside will have to squeeze pass from the foot of the other person to get out of bed by the gate. The gate is covered by a curtain which is drawn open in the day time and close at night. This is the metal hook for holding apart the curtain over the bed, they come in a pair.
W140xD110xH70mm, China
This pair of rectangular ceramic brick like objects are actually pillows! Its most natural to seek for something to support one’s head while sleep, by Siu dynasty (600 AD), after trying different material, the Chinese came up with pottery. The earthenware pillows are heavy and hard, these are used for burial. Glazed porcelain are smooth, light and cool; by the Song dynasty they became a household item, there are a vast number of shapes and design. For the reason of firing and the reduction of weight and material, the porcelain pillows are made hollow with airing holes on either side, another reason is for the cooling of the user. At the time when there are no air con, electrical fans, these helped to pass many long hot summer nights. This is a pair of simple rectangular pillow with design of the dragon and phoenix painted on, perfect for wedding.
Congratulation GY and Miranda!
happy thanksgiving and happy xmas shopping!
L80xH50mm, China
Sorry piggy, I writing a good roast pork (Char Shui) recipe today;
INGREDIENTS
- 1 kg boneless pork shoulder
(the rolled one in supermarket is fine) - 2 tbs honey
MARINADE
- 2 tbs hoisin sauce
- 2 tbs ground yellow bean sauce
- 4 tbs thin soya sauce
- 5 tbs sugar
- 1 tbs medium dry sherry
- 2 tbs chinese rose wine
- 1 tsp salt
- Divide the pork into 50mm wide long stripes, leave the fat on
- Mix the marinade and marinade for at least 4 hrs
(turning every 30 mins) - Preheat the oven to 180c, place the strips of pork on a wire rack in the middle of the oven (put a tray of water a the bottom to ease cleaning)
- Roast for 30 mins, redip in marinade and roast again for 30 mins
- Take out, test that it is cooked, rest on rack, applied honey, sliced up to 10mm thick and enjoyed!
W80xL100mm, China
(If you see this image on an iphone, that will be close to the actual size. This embroidery is very small)
This is a piece of typical Beijing style embroidery with the use of the Da Zi stitch which is a specific to the Beijing embroidery. With the Da Zi stitch each stitch is required to be of the same size, spacing and height, this demand a embroider to be able to use the same pressure for each stitch and to know where each stitch should be located. The Beijing style embroidery uses Da Zi stitch as a colour shade filler, each stitch is looped individually. The Beijing style embroidery work is labourious; in 1 sq cm, there would be 150 Da Zi stitches!
W230xD110xH180mm, China
This is a bamboo case with all the parts; hinges, bolds, handles are made out of bamboo. This brings back a lot of memories for me, as a child of a folkcraft shop owners this is the version of the Bond’s gadget briefcase I had. Inside stored all my little treasures.
L150xW110mm, China
The opera character of this paper cutout is Wei Chi Gong of the Siu dynasty who was persuaded to defect from Siu to join the first Tang empire by the Tang emperor. The story of the opera begins when Wei was still a general of the Siu empire whom went on war with the Tang, not only did he won, he disarmed a Tang general Yuan. This general was humiliated and when Wei join the Tang empire, he made up excuses to have Wei killed, luckily the plan failed. Years later, when the Tang emperor was losing his war, general Yuan left him and ran for his life. Luckily Wei arrived to save the day. This is Wei story in the opera but perhaps you know him as the Chinese door god, but that’s another story…
Mountain Folkcraft 