Head Circumference 590mm, Australia
Fiber weaving is a craft that has been practiced by the Aboriginal tribes in Australia.
Daily objects such as baskets, nets, etc. are made with plant fiber collected from the area, typically pale rush (Juncus Pallidus), white flag iris (Diplarreana Moraea) and forest flax lily (Dianella Tasmanica) according to the different seasons. The grass will be dried over a slow fire and stripped before they are use for weaving.
W220xL300mm, China
A Taoist wood block print entitled “Heaven Earth Dragon Carriage”.
On the left of the print is Yuan Shi Tian Zun, the supreme Taoist deity, together with Tai Shang Lao Jun and Ling Boa Tian Zun formed the 3 Pure Ones. On the right of the print is the Jade Emperor, the God who creates the system of nature and the universe. Jade Emperor sits inside his dragon carriage and around them the 4 guards; Wang Ling Tian Jun, Pu Hua Tian Jun, General Li, Marshal Zhao. This new year print is used to bless of journey in vehicles, it is also used on the wedding day after the bride was picked up by the groom’s car, the couple would need to thank the gods for providing a safe journey.
W290xL310xH40mm, China
The Chinese chess is a popular game since the Warring State period 1600BC and today major tournaments are held across China and it is a major past time for many.
The character of the chess resembles different roles in the military and have their own rule in movement. Unlike western chess, the pieces are placed on the nodes rather than the square itself
From these rules, and the popularity of the game, there are some idioms basing on the game of chess.
W150xL470xH20mm, Denmark
A game from my childhood.
Rules:
W150xD40xH200mm, China
Characters from the Beijing Opera (which is a collection of legendary stories in itself) are made into toys. I suppose the its no difference now with Buzz Lightyear and the Woody action character, an hero friend you can keep in the pocket.
This is Guan Yu, the hot blooded general of Liu Bei in the Three Kingdoms era (200BC), the character is made popular by the historic novel “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” (published 1350) where he is described as 9 feet tall with a 2 feet long beard, a date colour face and red lips, eyes of a phoenix, silkworm like eyebrow and above all loyal and dignify.
Not only is he a favorite character for the kids, he can also liked by the adults, taking on the role as the God of Wealth. In praise for his loyalty, in Hong Kong Guan Yu is also worshiped by the police and Triads alike.
DIA100xH40mm, China
A pair of peony bowls.
Peony is a flower that has been much appreciated, beyond displaying in gardens.
Its beauty reciprocated in painting, opera and poetry.
Emperor Xuan Gong was with his beloved Lady Yang admiring the peony blossom in the palace garden. Li Bai was summoned to court to write a poem about the peony.
清平调
雲想衣裳花想容，春風拂檻露華濃。
若非群玉山頭見，會向瑤臺月下逢。
一枝紅豔露凝香，雲雨巫山枉斷腸。
借問漢宮誰得似？可憐飛燕倚新妝。
名花傾國兩相歡，長得君王帶笑看。
解釋春風無限恨，沉香亭北倚闌干。
The poem “Lady Yang” by Li Bai, translation by S. Obata
The glory of trailing clouds is in her garments,
and the radiance of a flower on her face.
O heavenly apparition, found only far above
On the top of the Mountain of Many Jewels,
Or in the fairy Palace of Crystal when the moon is up!
Yet I see her here in the earth’s garden
The spring wind softly sweeps the balustrade,
And the dew-drops glisten thickly …
She is the flowering branch of the peony,
richly-laden with honey dew.
hers is the charm of the vanished fairy,
That broke the heart of the dreamer king
In the old legend of the Cloud and Rain.
Pray, who in the palace of Han
Could be likened unto her,
Save the lady, Flaying Swallow, newly dressed
In all her loveliness?
She stands, leaning against the balustrade
Of Chen Hsiang Ting, the Pavilion of Aloes.
Vanquished are the endless longings of Love
Borne into the heart on the wind of spring
The radiant flower and the flowery queen rejoice together,
For the emperor deigns to watch them ever with a smile.
W120xD100xH480, Burma
This is a figurine of the Buddha with an alms bowl standing on a lotus flower.
In Theravada Buddhism, “pindacara” a daily alms collection of food “pindapata” is practiced by the monks (and nuns). The word for monk “bhikkhu” means one who lives on alms, while “pindapata” means dropping a lump. The monks would leave their monastery, in a group they walk barefooted in single file according to seniority, their robe formally arranged covering both shoulders. The route will go through the village house by house, accepting but never requesting food that is dropped into the bowls. This figurine, the Buddha, is leading figurine of a group which consists of monks of different heights which unfortunately is not with us.
Monks in Burma
the second film has a more in depth view of a monk’ life.
W250xD140xH110mm, China
While researching on other items relating to opium, I realised there has been a mistake.
This item as previously published (2013/10/23) as being a stationary box. Apology! It is actually a box for storing the opium kit.
Similar box can be found in the Brooklyn Museum Collection.
W350xd150xH200mm, China
Chi Wen, the second son of the dragon, like the Tao Tie and the Suan Ni. The Chi Wen loves enjoying the vista and fire eating, because of this it is often found on the ridges of traditional buildings as a protection against fire. The Chi Wen has a head of a lion but the tail of a fish, the legendary owl fish (which was likely to be the whale)
This beautifully carved golden wood carving is used as a decoration for the company logo.
You can take a glimpse of it in the film below, a documentary about a traditional cake shop in Hong Kong. In the first episode, the decoration construction for the Mid Autumn festival starts at 3:34″. The pair can be seen under the logo at 5:05″, closed up at 5:10.
This series of documentary “May Food Keep Us Together” is one of my favorite, it examines the tradition, the generations of the family who runs these food places that are quickly replaced by the chain fast food outlet.
Mountain Folkcraft 