Archives for the month of: December, 2014
W140xD30xH270mm, China
This is a wood carving based on a scene from the romantic comedy “The Story of the Western Wing”. It has nothing to do with the White House but a play set in the Tang dynasty about a young couple pursuing with their love for each other without the consent of their parents. In the old days, marriage are arranged by the parents with the husband and wife to be never meeting each other before the day of the wedding. Love affairs outside of this arrangement are forbidden and are seen as dishonoring to the family name.
In the scene depicted, the chamber maid, Hong Niang, was caught assisting Cui Ying Ying, the daughter of the chief minister, in seeing the young scholar staying in the western wing of the house. The lady of the house interrogated Hong Niang with her daughter Cui Ying Ying hidding behind the screen. In the end the family consented an official marriage on the condition that the young scholar Zhang Sheng would come top in the national official examination (a very difficult task). Zhang Sheng passed the exam with flying colours, became the zhuang yuan, married Cui Ying Ying and lived happily ever after.
DIA200xH230mm, China
While you are getting tangerine and kamquat for X’mas, get an extra portion of kamquat and preserve them.
The Chinese believe that the salted kamquat is a natural remedy for any throat irritation or ailment. Here is the recipe;
- soaked the kamquat in a bowl of water with a handful of salt for 10mins, washed, rinse and dry
- blanch the kamquat in boiling water (dont over cook them)
- put in a sieve and let dry for a day
- stir fried some ginger slices with salt
- place a layer of kamquat at the bottom of the jar, cover with a layer of sea salt
- repeat until the jar is full or when you run out of kamquat
- seal the top of the jar with a piece of a paper and tied it to the mouth of the jar
- place the jar in a cool dark dry place
- the kamquat will be ready in a couple of days, but as usual the longer it is kept, the better the effect
- to use; put a preserved kamquat in a cup, topped with boiling water and give the kamquat a squeeze with a spoon.
While typing this, I wonder if I should try a sweet version with cinnamon and sugar this year ….
W370xH300mm, China
This shoulder bag is from the Bai tribe of China.
Composed of embroidery, patchwork, though colourful has a beige handwoven cloth as the base for the bag.
White is the colour for the Bai tribe (Bai meaning white), they based their costume on this colour, the noblest of colour.
DIA90xH80mm, China
These tea bowls are from the contemporary Ru kiln which began in the North Song dynasty. The characteristic of the Ru kiln glaze of having a small amount of iron oxide which gives the special green colour upon firing in a reducing atmosphere.
Amongst the unique pottery, you will also find Mountain Folkcraft’s collection at the Cobo Ceramic Workshop X’mas Sale.
COBO CERAMIC WORKSHOP
1/F Fortune Court, 33 Morrison Hill Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
5 – 9 Dec 2014 (Fri – Tue)
13:00-20:00
L330xW220xH30mm, China
The leave fell onto the bamboo folders just as we were taking photos of them.
The colour cannot be better matched!
Amongst the unique pottery, you will also find Mountain Folkcraft’s collection at the Cobo Ceramic Workshop X’mas Sale.
COBO CERAMIC WORKSHOP
1/F Fortune Court, 33 Morrison Hill Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
5 – 9 Dec 2014 (Fri – Tue)
13:00-20:00
L80xW40xH40mm, China
Now how can you resist these complete cute looking clay dog toys!
Amongst the unique pottery, you will also find Mountain Folkcraft’s collection at the Cobo Ceramic Workshop X’mas Sale.
COBO CERAMIC WORKSHOP
1/F Fortune Court, 33 Morrison Hill Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
5 – 9 Dec 2014 (Fri – Tue)
13:00-20:00
L280xW80xH20mm, China
A cookie mould of – a mushroom, a pomegranate and a fan.
You might find the combination a bit odd;
the mushroom is ganoderma, a type of wood fungi which is believed to give longevity, a saintly plant,
pomegrante, the whole fruit being just seeds is a symbol of fertility,
the fan is a symbol of a scholar, they are often hang on the wall to give a blessing for the family to have a scholar.
So in fact, the three items are a representation of the famous Fu Lu Shou,
Amongst the unique pottery, you will also find Mountain Folkcraft’s collection at the Cobo Ceramic Workshop X’mas Sale.
COBO CERAMIC WORKSHOP
1/F Fortune Court, 33 Morrison Hill Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
5 – 9 Dec 2014 (Fri – Tue)
13:00-20:00
DIA330xH90mm, China
A beautiful lacquer serving dish which I found the colour to be warm and x’mas like, the same feeling as scent of the tangerine peels, the taste of cinnamon, the sound of church bells …
The dish is decorated with peony flowers, peony is also know as the flower of riches and honour 富貴花. There is a story about peony and the mean Empress Wu Zetian, one snowy winter she summoned all the flowers to blossom for her morning wine party. The gardeners as well as the plants did their best, going against the natural order they all blossomed in fear of the Empress, all but the peony. The Empress was extremely upset and forbid peony to stayed in the capital Chang An, it was send to Luoyang. There in Luoyang, the peony blossoms filled the city. When the Empress heard about the news, she ordered for the peony to be burnt, but under the warm of the heat, it blossomed even more.
Click for more information about the special construction of the dish.
Amongst the unique pottery, you will also find Mountain Folkcraft’s collection at the Cobo Ceramic Workshop X’mas Sale.
COBO CERAMIC WORKSHOP
1/F Fortune Court, 33 Morrison Hill Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
5 – 9 Dec 2014 (Fri – Tue)
13:00-20:00
W170xH280mm, China
This paper cutout is a pair of candles on the wedding candle stand. On the candle stand is the word double happiness “喜喜”, the two of them giving the joy of quadruple happiness! Candles are a symbol of marriage, the word 花燭 Hua Zhu (flower candle) is synonymous with marriage. These red wedding candles will be placed in the living room as well as the bedroom of the couple. It is however interesting to know that the use of flower candles were initially for the bride’s family, to console the departure of their beloved daughter.
Amongst the unique pottery, you will also find Mountain Folkcraft’s collection at the Cobo Ceramic Workshop X’mas Sale.
COBO CERAMIC WORKSHOP
1/F Fortune Court, 33 Morrison Hill Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
5 – 9 Dec 2014 (Fri – Tue)
13:00-20:00
Mountain Folkcraft 