Archives for posts with tag: chinese
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Three Fish Necklace

11/07/2013 //
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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERADIA130mm, China

For the Something Old Something New Collectible Jewellery is the necklace of the three fish, the dushan jade fish are hang on a hand woven Chinese knots necklace.

Three fish are seen as a sign of blessing, in the East Han dyansty, when bribery was a common affair, there was a just  officer named Yang Zhen.  Yang was in charged of the appointment of government official, unlike the others before him, he would only appoint those who has the ability and reject those who tried to bribe him.  One day, when Yang was at a low point in his life, he saw three fish jumping out of pond.  He feels that the gods has understood him and blessed him with the three fish and soon after he was promoted to be one of the three top officials.  The three fish became a symbol for the three top officials under only the emperor himself, in today’s terms they are the prime minister, the secretary of home affairs and the secretary of defense.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Something Old Something New
Collectible Jewellery Collection

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Categories event, jewellery

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

Bat Cookie Mould

10/31/2013 //
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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

W70xL210xH25mm, China

Bat biscuit for the halloween?

Unlike the west where the bat is associated with the dracula, the Chinese adores the symbol of the bat.  Being viewed as an icon of blessing, their symbol can be seen everywhere.  The Chinese name for bat is 蝠 ( fu), which sound like the word blessing, 福 (fu), and as bat sleeps upside down 倒 (dao) sharing the same pronunciation as the word arrival, 到 (dao).

Bat hanging upside down = Arrival of blessing

Why would a bat be hanging upside down?

Happy halloween!

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Categories tools, wood

Lion Wood Bracket Carving

10/30/2013 //
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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERALion CarvingOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
L580xW140xH360mm, L620xW150xH340mm, China

A pair or lions; the lion playing with the xiu qiu is a male and the other with the cub is a lioness.
These pair of wood carving is part of an architectural element, in fact it is part of the bracket that hold up the beam in traditional Chinese architecture.  This highly decorative architectural / structural elements are found in the south, in larger building such as ancestral homes.

In the building the lions would have been view with their tails on the upper part and their heads at the bottom, as in the photo below.

beam carving

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Categories figurine, furniture / architecture, wood

Fu Lu Shou

10/24/2013 //
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Fu Lu SauW180xD80xH360mm, China
(in the order from left to right – Fu Sau, Lu)

In my generation and those before, the blessing trio figurine could be seen at the focal point of all homes.

The three are a combination of all good blessings,
Fu – good fortune,
Lu – prosperity,
Sau – longevity

The three were originally concept of the astrology, stars.
Fu Star – the planet Jupiter
Lu Star – Ursa Majoris
Shu Star – Canopus

In the Ming dynasty the Taoist, attributed the Stars to persons or saintly figures and the three are grouped together to symbolize the idea of a good life ever since.  Perhaps life has become less harsh or simply the flats are much smaller, Fu Lu Sau figurines are seldom seen in homes.

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Categories figurine, pottery

Mirror Painting

10/21/2013 //
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mirror paintingW320xH420mm, China

A mirror painting of a still life.

Though unintentional by the artist, there is something rather modern about the painting; the lack of shadow, the flatten objects, the solid colour, lack of detail and the sharp outline of the objects.

 Reminded me of Patrick Caulfield’s work.

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Categories furniture / architecture, paper

Four Season Flower Bowl

10/17/2013 //
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four season flower bowl four season flower bowlDIA160xH60mm, China

The four season flowers, Narcissus, Lotus, Chrysanthemum, Plum Blossom, were a popular decoration for pottery and other works of art.  They symbolizes a good fortune for all the four seasons.

Click to see the other four season flowers pottery ware.

The four seasons are appreciated all over the world, here is Mutter’s amazing performance on Vivaldi.

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Categories container, pottery

Furniture Collection

10/16/2013 //
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furniture

Come and take a look at our collection of furniture!

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Categories furniture / architecture, Uncategorized, wood

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

Millefiori Paper Weight

10/09/2013 //
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millefiori

W45xD45xH50mm, China

Millefiori, “mille” (thousand) and “fiori” (flowers), in Italian.

I had a similar millefiori paper weight as a child.  I had no concept of a paper weight then and took it as a treasure item which I spend numerous lazy afternoons staring into the glass.  I would swear once I saw the little flowers moving inside but of course no one would believe me.

The millefiori frog here is not a Baccarat, but I just love the 70s psychedelic feeling to the film … and now you can perhaps also see the flowers moving inside the glass.

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Categories figurine, glass, tools
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