DIA40xH30mm, China
This tiny blue and white porcelain bowl is used for feeding the pet bird, the wooden detail on the side make it able to be attached to the bamboo bird cage (click to see). The traditional bird feed includes; millet, crushed corn, peanut, sorghum, fruits, sunflower seed, perilla seed, mazi, foxtail millet.
DIA110xH70mm, China
Today is the 15th day of the Chinese New Year, Yuan Xiao, a day which denotes a lot of events;
– First full moon of the new year
– End of the Chinese New Year celebration
– Chinese valentine’s day
– Lantern’s festival
It is traditional to have a rice dumpling soup on the day and to solve the lantern riddle.
Here is the recipe for the rice dumpling soup (also known as Yuan Xiao)
INGREDIENTS
For the dumpling (make 10 dumpling)
For the soup
LANTERN RIDDLE
Here is a lantern riddle to go with your dumpling soup (now all you need is to find a valentine and a lantern …)
WHEN IT IS SITTING ITS SITTING
WHEN IT IS STANDING ITS SITTING
WHEN IT IS MOVING ITS SITTING
WHEN IT IS SLEEPING ITS SITTING
(guess an animal)
The bowl presented here is in fact a tea bowl (blue and white porcelain with painted goldfish), its a brewing and drinking bowl for individual enjoyment. Hot water is added to the tea leaves in the bowl, rinse and drained (use the lid to retain the tea leave). A second round of hot water is added and brew for 10 minutes. The lid is opened for appreciation of the scent and the colour of the tea, it is then close again with a small small opening. Tea is slowly sipped out from the gap.
(answer to the riddle – frog)
DIA180xH250mm, China
In the old days, for a common Chinese family the ceramic items on the dowry list would include: one vase, a pair of blue and white double happiness jars, a pair of hat rest. Inside of the jars would be placed dates and lotus seeds as a symbol of adding a son for the family.
Dia200mm, China
This is design of the scholar and the incense is a popular design of the De Hua pottery town, a town that has been making pottery since the Ming dynasty. Probably because it is situated close to the coast, by Qing dynasty their work are made mainly for export. The same design has also been recovered from the treasure of the Tek Sing shipwreck.
DIA200xH70mm, China
This is a bowl is called the vegetarian bowl, it is used for containing offerings for the Buddhist and Taoist gods on the individual god’s festival, new year and the day that marks the 16th and 21th birthday of a boy. The offering would be of dried fruits, nuts, cakes, etc., presented in the form of a cone. There is an old saying for people with intention, “coming not to worship the Buddha but to have a look at the offering bowls”.
W250xL250mm, China
Porcelain tiles are often used as a decoration piece in traditional wooden Chinese furniture. These decorative tiles can be found as the panel for the seat or the back of the chair, panels for the door of a cabinet, panels for the back of the bed and as the panel of a screen. The Chinese have viewed ceramic as utensils, it was not until late Ming dynasty when more colourful glazing was developed that ceramic as painting took a fashion.
Mountain Folkcraft 