DIA200xH160mm, China
One of the decorative plants for the Chinese New Year is the daffodil, it is so popular that containers are made specially for its display. The bowl has a number of the symbolic elements; the lotus plant and the mandarin duck. The Chinese word for mandarin duck, Yuan Yang, stands for the male (yuan) and female (yang), meaning a pair of loving couple. The lotus plant is a symbol of fertility.
W240xL380mm, China
This door hanger paper cutout is called Diao Qian Er, a blessing for household for the new year. They would be place on the lintel on “Spring Arrival” day ( last Monday, the 4th of Feb) and be taken down on, 24th Feb, the night of Yuan Xiao. It is believed that if if is not taken down on Yuan Xiao, the sleepy worm would stay with the household for the year. In rural China, the farmers who have no Sunday or Public Holiday, Chinese New Year is the only time they would allow themselves to take a break from work and rest. Taking off the Dio Qian Er would signify the end of the New Year celebration.
On this paper cutout; there is the word “合家歡樂”, happiness for the whole family, on a backdrop of 卍 Man Ji Wan which is a symbol for essence of goodness. Below are symbols of coins, symbolizing wealth.
W100xL230xD40mm, China
On your birthday if someone made you a cake in the shape of a turtle, you will probably thought they taking a piss at you. However, the “red turtle cake” is a special birthday sweet for the Chao Zhou, Fujian, Taiwan area, the sweets are made to be given to friends and family at the celebration of birthdays, for the new born or birthday of the land god. The red colour is a symbol of happiness and the turtle a symbol of longevity.
If you cannot wait till birthday to try it out, they are also use a celebratory food for Chinese New Year.
W280xH400mm, China
Today, lunar 24th December, is the day for thanking the Kitchen God.
On this day, the Kitchen God is about to depart to do his yearly report to the Jade Emperor; a summary of the good and bad deeds of the family his has been with. This is the day the family should thank him for his presence and to sweeten him up a bit so he will speak well of them.
The offering should include:
A Bowl of Rice + A Bowl of Water
– to show the relationship between the Kitchen God and the family is clean and innocent, if the Kitchen God is lenient, the 2 items would turn black when he return to heaven.
Sugar Canes with Nodes and End Leaves
– with the nodes the Kitchen God can use it as a ladder to climb up to heaven, the end leaves symbolizes a beginning and an ending.
Fried Rice Biscuits, Satsumas, Tangerines, Red Sugar and A Red Packet
– food to sweeten his mouth so good words would be used for his report.
A Paper Horse, Black Robe, Boots
– provision of transport and costume for his meeting with the Jade Emperor.
A Kitchen God Cheat Sheet
– a yellow piece of paper with words chosen by the family.
These offerings should be place in the rice storage container.
With so much bribe, I wonder if the rice and water should be there at all …
DIA100xH70mm, Hong Kong
INSTRUCTION
Rock shape box,
pinching to get a close form,
padding to get the facet shape and texture,
cut at semi dry to get the lid perfectly fit.
stoneware.
Mountain Folkcraft 