Archives for category: container

Congee Pot

08/16/2013 //

DIA190xH160mm, China

This beautiful painted pot is a container for rice porridge (congee), a nourishing dish for the elderly. Though this is an object that would only be found in wealthy families, it seems that elaborated decoration and the specific usage might have another reason other than the utilitarian one. The Chinese name for the congee pot is 粥罐 “zhou guan” which has the same pronunciation as 做官 “zuo guan” (being a court official, which is the desire of all commoners). For this reason, these shape of pots 罐 are view more highly than that of vases and though has an everyday function are highly decorative. Congee also is a easily digested meal which promotes longevity. In this sense the congee pot is seen as an item of blessing and thus had a special place in a household.

Now if you are interested in making congee to go with the pot, here is how they make it in the best congee place in Hong Kong.

And this is how you can make it at home in 5 mins!

Tags chinese, congee pot, container, peony, porcelian, pottery, zhou guan

Categories container, pottery

Lacquer Bamboo Basket

08/15/2013 //

DIA260xH320mm, China

A lacquered bamboo weaved basket which forms part of the dowry of the young bride and an essential household object. These form of baskets are used for storing food before the arrival of the refrigerator. Precious food item like fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs, would be placed inside the basket and hung under the beam of the kitchen. The basket provide good airing and being suspended will stopped vermin from reaching the food.

Tags bamboo, basket, chinese, container, dowry, food storage, lacquer

Categories bamboo, container, lacquer

Lotus Leaf Vessel

08/12/2013 //

DIA320xH240mm, Hong Kong

Remember the antique lotus leaf lid that was featured in last winter’s blog? I started a pottery project of making a vessel to match the lid, after several versions this is the final version which I am most happy with. It is ideal for serving soup and of course lotus leaf rice.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Tags chinese, container, hong kong, lotus leaf, pottery, something old something new, wood

Categories container, JT pottery, pottery, wood

Mother of Pearl Lacquer Pear Box

08/05/2013 //

DIA90xH140mm, China

The craft of mother of pearl inlay on lacquer began in the Sung dynasty. Turbo marmoratus (great green turban) shell are polished down to a thickness of 0.5mm, then cut into point, lines and planes, these are then inlay onto the container before lacquer is applied. Click here to see the elaborated process.

Tags chinese, container, inlay, lacquer box, mother of pearl, pear, tubo marmoratus

Categories container, lacquer

Embroidery Wallet

07/31/2013 //

W200xL100mm, China

Similar to the western wallet which began its life as a knapsack for carrying articles not restricting to money, the Chinese wallet too start as a bag for keeping items like handkerchief, seals and of course money. The use of the wallet dated back to the Han dynasty, on the Bezeklik cave painting, 12th century CE, one can see Uyghur princes dressed in Chinese style robes and hanging wallets on their waists. As time goes by the shape and decoration of the wallet became more and more elaborated.

Tags chinese, container, embroidery, wallet

Categories container, embroidery, fabric

Dai Pai Dong Bowl

07/29/2013 //

DIA125xH60mm, China

This bowl bring back a lot of childhood memory for me, I remember it containing this delicious red bean paste desert.

In the old days, these type of bowls are used by the hawker street stalls, “dai pai dong”, which has long been replaced by plastic bowls. Tung Po, my favorite place, is probably the only dai pai dong that still using similar bowls. The use of the bowls are not more sophisticated, they are chilled and beer is served for drinking challenges.

Tags blue and white porcelain, bowl, chinese, dai pai dong, hong kong, pottery, street hawker food

Categories container, pottery

Chabana Basket

07/25/2013 //

DIA100xH400mm, China

This is a bamboo weaved basket used for chabana, flower arrangement for tea ceremony. The flower arrangement would be placed in the alcove of the room, using a seasonal flowers, narrow and tall vase made of natural material such as bamboo, ceramics or metal. The flower arrangement is also less formal than Ikebana, using little or decorative fillers material. Chabana developed from the Ikebana style Nageire, where flowers are thrown into the vase giving the viewer the same impression as they would have if they had been in the wild. The simple arrangement would have one single blossom, arranged to be leaning toward the guest.

Tags bamboo, Chabana, chinese, container, flower arrangement, Ikebana, weaving

Categories bamboo, container

Personal Teapot

07/23/2013 //

DIA100xH60mm, China

Tea drinking is a social activities but it can also be a personal indulgence. This type of teapots were made to be drank directly from the sprout while holding the handle in the opposite direction with the sprout facing oneself. They are much appreciated by the scholars, an object of desire to be fondle with by the eye, the touch and suckle of fragrant tea. It would perhaps be comparable to a beloved pipe which one would enjoy touching and mouthing.

Tags chinese, container, personal, pottery, teapot

Categories container, pottery

Plate – Straight Hook Fishing

07/16/2013 //

DIA135mm, China

On this blue and white porcelain plate is a pine tree and a man fishing. This man is Jiang Zi Ya, a man who is famous for fishing with a straighten hook. This practice is not a new fishing method or something to do with humane way of fishing but an ideology of this special man. Fed up with the administration of the Emperor, Jiang retreated to a remote area where he began this special fishing practice. Under the clear water, everyone can see that the hook is straighten and thought that he is either stupid or lazy, but Jiang believe that if the fish is willing, it will come to him. And at this remote village, one day Wen came to him, from there Jiang assisted Wen become the new emperor of the Zhou Dynasty. And as for most hero in China, Jiang became a saint.

This item is also available at the Pop-Up Gallery @Fringe Vault, a joint venture with SOIL (July 4 – 31)