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Dragon Necklace

11/20/2013 //
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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERADIA140mm, China

It would be hard to guess what is the black metal badge behind the dragon.
….
A bronze mirror!  This mirror is unfortunately not polished, so you will not be able to turn it over to re-apply the lipstick after meal.

For the Chinese, the bronze mirror is a lovers’ keepsake, a token of love.  The story goes back to the Southern and Northern dynasty; a couple was departed during the war, the husband saw the bronze mirror in half and each kept a piece as a keepsake.  Years later, after a lot of hardship the two was able to find each other with the token mirror.  And finally the circular mirror was completed again.
破鏡重圓

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Something Old Something New
Collectible Jewellery Collection

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Categories event, jewellery, metal

Iron Lion

11/01/2013 //
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iron lion

L170xW90xH170mm, China

Lions, perhaps not being a native animal in China, were considered as mythical creatures, protector and even made to be carriage of Bodhisattva Manjusri.

Chinese lions are often portrayed playing the xiu qiu, symbolizing harmony and joy.
However, does lion really enjoy playing balls like a cat …

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Categories figurine, metal

Hakka Bracelet

10/10/2013 //
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silver braceletDIA100mm, China

A Hakka silver bracelet which is called a Shiu Ag, the Hakka believes that the bracelet can keep the evil “wind” away (驅風), the bracelet is quite popular with the older generation women.  In Chinese medicine the sickness of the 4 seasons,  cold / dampness / dryness / summer heat / heat (寒，濕，燥，暑，熱) will enter our body through the “wind”, so its best to get rid of the evil wind.

 

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Categories jewellery, metal

Tin Toy Mouse

09/12/2013 //
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tin toy

 

W50xL130xH40mm, China

An orange mouse that has probably had a feast of carrots.

To see our other tin toys, click here.

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Categories metal, toy

Incense Burner

06/25/2013 //
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Incense BurnerDIA100xH110mm, China

This old incense burner has a very contemporary design, even the exterior has a glossy finished to it.  It would have been used at home for the worship of gods or the ancestors.  The interior of the burner would be filled with ashes of the rice bran, these would be used to secure the incense stick.  As times goes by the container will be naturally filled with the ashes of the incense.

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Categories container, metal, tools

Bronze Tea Cozy

06/17/2013 //
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tea pot

tea potDIAxHmm, China

  This curious barrel is in fact a tea cozy, it used to have an insulated lining but unfortunately that has been lost together with the teapot.  It is more common to see the ratten and the wooden version than the metal version.

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Categories container, metal

Garuda – Khyung

05/27/2013 //
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garudaW250xD80xH220mm, Tibet

The Garuda is a mystical bird who appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythologies.  An ancient symbol of the Hindu sun, Garuda is the vehicle of the god Vishnu and his wife.  He has the golden body of a man, white face with an eagle’s beak,a pair of red wings, two horns, a crown on his head and eats naga (snakes) for a meal.  In Buddhism, he is the vehicle of Vajrapani and the symbol of the transcendent Buddha Amoghasiddhi.  In Tibetan Buddhism, Garuda fuses with the mythical Himalayan Khyung bird of fire and became a god both for Bon (ancient Tibetan religion) and Tibetan Buddism.

In the Tibetan legend, Garuda stole a jewel from Naga king of Mount Meru, he carefully swallow the jewel and later vomited out.  (The jewel is on the crown of this figurine).  It seems no coincident the Tibetan rememdy for snake bite is the vomit of the eagle.

ASIAN FOLKCRAFT COLLECTION
SOIL X MOUNTAIN FOLKCRAFT

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Categories figurine, metal

9 Immortals Necklace

05/24/2013 //
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8 immortalsDIA165mm, China

The figurines on this necklace used to be the ornaments of a child’s hat.  A special hat would be made for the child’s birth, 100 days celebration and the first birthday.  The hat is seen as a blessing for the child, depending on the gender, family social status, the design of the hat varies.

The gold plated enamel ornaments would have belongs to a hat of a wealth family.  The 9 figurines are the 8 Immortals (one either side) + the god of Longevity (in the middle).  The 8 Immortals are; Iron-Crutch Tie Guai Li, Philosopher Han Xiang Zi, Elder Zhang Guo Lao, Lan Cai He, Immortal Woman He Zian Gu, Leader Lu Dong Bin, Han Zhong Li and Royal Uncle Cao Guo Jiu, they are Taoist saints who are not very powerful and have a few human frailties.  One of the many stories of the 8 Immortals is about their birthday wishes for the Queen Mother of the West and thus the appearance is associated with birthdays and blessings.

Here is a clip from the Xiang opera “8 Immortals birthday wishes for the Queen Mother of the West”

 Collectible Jewellery
Something Old Something New

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Categories event, figurine, jewellery, metal

Silver Brooch

05/22/2013 //
3

silver brooch

W90xH70mm, Hong Kong

This smart silver brooch is made from an original kirin boy pendant, a blessing pendant for the child.  Legend had it that the kirin delivered the baby Confucius to  his parents; by putting on the figurine of the kirin boy, the parents hope that their child will also turn out to be as bright as the scholar Confucius.

SOMETHING OLD SOMETHING NEW
COLLECTIBLE JEWELLERY COLLECTION

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Categories figurine, jewellery, metal

Millefiori Bead

05/20/2013 //
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Millefiori

DIA165mm, Hong Kong

A simple necklace with a handmade millefiori bead.  The making of a millefiori bead is though not as simple …


COLLECTIBLE JEWELLERY
SOMETHING OLD SOMETHING NEW

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Categories glass, jewellery, leather / feather, metal
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