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Inkstone

02/27/2013 //
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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

L170xW120xH20mm, China

The plum blossom has been an object of admiration by the scholars of China.  Along with the orchid, chrysanthemum and bamboo, the 4 gentlemen plants have been a constant subject for artistic creation from poem, verses to painting and carvings.  Each of the 4 are given an individual personality; the plum blossom – noble arrogance, orchid – eternal elegance, chrysanthemum – cool glamour, bamboo – humble but dignify.

The inkstone being a treasured item of a traditional scholar is a place to be decorated.

Now, nothing to do with noble arrogance but isnt he the sweetest … with the plum blossoms on his head.

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Categories container, stationary, stone

Clay Horse

02/26/2013 //
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Clay Horse

H150xL150xW100, China

This sweet little clay horse is by the Hu Xin Min, an artisan who successfully injected new spirits into the traditional craft.

The  Feng Xiang province has a long and  famous for making clay figurines, they are dramatic and bold in patterns, a blessing present for the Chinese New Year, festivals.  The history of Feng Xiang goes back to the Tang dynasty, the first emperor  Zhu Yuan Zhang had the 6th division of his army based in the area.  During peaceful time, these soldiers from the south made clay figurines as a pass time.  Later on, the soldiers settled in the village and named it the 6th division village and the tradition of craft of clay toys started.

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Categories clay, figurine, toy

Matryoshka Cups

02/25/2013 //
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cups

DIA50-120xH35-65mm, China

This series of 10 cups make a good set of sake cups for dinner party.  Depending on their drinking ability, guests can pick the size of their own cups and the host can refill all their cups at the same time!

The cups are so precisely made that they can be nested into one and other like the Russian Matryoshka dolls, making storage much easier.

Bowls

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Categories container, pottery

Bed Pan

02/22/2013 //
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chamber pot

W120xL190xH140mm, China

For the Chinese, the use of a bed pan is not confined for the bed ridden but for the privileged men who are too lazy to get out of men.  In old China, the bed is the only place where heating is supplied and leaving once warm bed to the freezing world is not at all desirable and so the idea of a bedpan appeared.  For the wealthy, the bedpan are made of gold or silver, copper for the well to do, porcelain for middle class and pottery like this one for the commoners.  The metal ones are often insulated with a small duvet, it will defeat the purpose of not getting out of bed if you ended up touching something cold.  Apparently President Yuan Shi Kai’s bedpan was made of lead, as it is not as noisy to wake himself up.

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Categories container, pottery

Puppet Head – Qing Hua Junior

02/20/2013 //
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W40xD50xH100mm, China

This puppet head is that of a glove puppet, it is of the character Qing Hua Junior of the Jing (painted face) catergory.  Qing Hua Junior can portrait characters of a villain or a hero with an explosive attitude.

The making of the puppet starts from selection of Zhang wood (Cinnamomum Camphora), apart from the nature of the wood its also has a function of being a wood pesticide, the required size would be taken out and together with the trimming to the rough form all done by use of a hammer.  The details are then carved out, once the carving is completed a thin layer of white slip is applied as a filler to smooth out the knots of the wood.  The base colour is then sprayed by a mouth piece and the features hand painted.  If there are hair to the puppet, it would be added at the final stage.

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Categories puppet, wood

God of Longevity

02/18/2013 //
2

god of longevity W100xD80xH200mm, China

This is a figurine is that of the God of Longevity, he is holding a longevity peach that just one bite of it will make one immortal.

Click here to see the god of longevity’s relation with astronomy,
history and
his cane.

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Categories figurine, pottery

Turtle Cookie Mould

02/05/2013 //
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cookie mould

W100xL230xD40mm, China

On your birthday if someone made you a cake in the shape of a turtle, you will probably thought they taking a piss at you.   However, the “red turtle cake” is a special birthday sweet for the Chao Zhou, Fujian, Taiwan area, the sweets are made to be given to friends and family at the celebration of birthdays, for the new born or birthday of the land god.  The red colour is a symbol of happiness and the turtle a symbol of longevity.

If you cannot wait till birthday to try it out, they are also use a celebratory food for Chinese New Year.

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Categories tools, wood

Kitchen God

02/04/2013 //
2

kitchen god

W280xH400mm, China

Today, lunar 24th December, is the day for thanking the Kitchen God.

On this day, the Kitchen God is about to depart to do his yearly report to the Jade Emperor; a summary of the good and bad deeds of the family his has been with.  This is the day the family should thank him for his presence and to sweeten him up a bit so he will speak well of them.

The offering should include:
A Bowl of Rice + A Bowl of Water
– to show the relationship between the Kitchen God and the family is clean and innocent, if the Kitchen God is lenient, the 2 items would turn black when he return to heaven.
Sugar Canes with Nodes and End Leaves
– with the nodes the Kitchen God can use it as a ladder to climb up to heaven, the end leaves symbolizes a beginning and an ending.
Fried Rice Biscuits, Satsumas, Tangerines, Red Sugar and A Red Packet
– food to sweeten his mouth so good words would be used for his report.
A Paper Horse, Black Robe, Boots
– provision of transport and costume for his meeting with the Jade Emperor.
A Kitchen God Cheat Sheet
– a yellow piece of paper with words chosen by the family.

These offerings should be place in the rice storage container.
With so much bribe, I wonder if the rice and water should be there at all …

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Categories painting / prints, paper

Silver Neckwear

12/13/2012 //
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silver neckwear

 

DIA180mm, China

Today we have something more traditional, part of the Dong tribe consume, a triple ring silver neckwear.  Together with the silver head wear, they are the most important part of their costume, passing down from generations.  There are many style for the neck ring, we found this particular one to be very modern and bold.

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Categories costume, event, jewellery, metal, tribal

Mu Yu

12/07/2012 //
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mu yuDIA90xH60mm, China

Mu Yu is a form of Chinese percussion musical instrument, it comes in different sizes from DIA 40- 850mm producing different sound at each size.  The smallest size is only for the used in the Buddhism recitation.  The name Mu Yu (wooden fish) is believed to be a reminder for the monks, as the fish is awake and alert in the day and at night, Buddhism should be practiced just the same.

Here is what it sounds like with chanting:

And here is a Maywa Denki version:

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Categories tools, wood
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