H50xL90mm, China
This is a small buffalo horn carving of a gold fish.
Archives for posts with tag: chinese
W90xL90mm, China
This is paper cutout is from the procession of the mouse’ wedding. The Chinese believes that mouse are prey and should be kept out of the house. The cunning plan was to arrange a marriage for daughter mouse on Chinese New Year’s eve so that the house would be cleansed and blessed. Over New Year paper cutout of the full procession (including varies mouse musician, gift carrier and of course the bride) would be stuck on the walls or windows of the house. This cutout is a part of the 12 zodiac animals made into a greeting card.
L230mm, China
Tin toy of the Zeppelin air ship. Tin toy was introduced into China at the turn of the century and by the 20s China has started producing tin toy. As they are durable and cheap they became the toy for many generations.
H40xW40mm, China
TRICK OR TREAT?
This is part of a set of the zodiac animals clay gu gu toy. They are called gu gu because they are whistle toy and makes “gu gu” sound. Traditionally families would gather to hand build them together after the harvest season in the winter. The gu gu normally has a black base colour and highlighted with bright colours but unlike the other clay toys they are glazed and then fired. Happy Halloween!
L500mm, China
This is a snake toy made of section of small bamboo, with each section held together by a small metal rod. Holding on to the tail section, it will become animated and move like a real snake ready to attack!
H100xW50xD60mm, China
Puppets originally are used as burial item made to replace human sacrificial burial. In the Han dynasty theatrical art developed, puppet show was not only the first performance art of China, it was the leader of all theatrical art. By Sung Dynasty, Quan Zhou was the cosmopolitan of its time; arts, trade, religion were at their peak, religious ceremony was held every 3-5 days, the witch craft associated puppet show flourished. There was a demand of high quality puppets, the carving works of the head that were in the beginning carried out by the Buddha statue craftman were later developed as specialised art. This is a glove puppet of a monk, the eye and the mouth can be controlled separately and there is even a small tongue!
W600xL900mm, China
This is one of the traditional costume of the Miao tribe from the Qian Chung Nan area In fact there are over 200 different styles within the Miao tribe, different district would have their own costumes (hairstyle, accessory, clothing, etc) which has been modified along the different dynasty. From the Qing dynasty, embroidery, silverware, Manchurian style left or right breasted garments were added into the collection. This garment would have been worn by a middle age female; made with blue cotton, tailored to be loosely fitted with no collar.
L80xH80xW60mm, China
Cloth tiger is a common toy for children in China. Though we have all kinds of monstrous toys on the market nowadays, it would seems strange for a folk toy to be based on a vicious animal like the tiger. In the days when life in less protected against nature and disease, the Chinese look on the tiger as a symbol of strength, bravery and good health. The cloth tiger becomes a symbol of protection and a blessing for the young. On the 5th of the lunar month of may, the day when ritual would be performed for plague prevention, faces of the children will be painted yellow with tiger pattern for extra protection. Cloth tiger would be given to a child 3 days after its birth, on its 100 days birthday, 1st and 2nd birthdays and on Chinese New Year as a blessing to the child.
H270xW40xL100mm, China
Since the Ming dynasty bamboo carving has been seen as a specialized art; the practitioners are literati who are master of calligraphy and stone carving, this together with the nature of the material bamboo (hollow internally with knots at intervals), bamboo carving has combined painting and sculpture in one art form. There are broadly two type of bamboo carving, utilitarian and decorative. The utilitarian form mostly make use of the hollow of the bamboo shaft (e.g. a pen holder, wine cup, weight etc) and relief type engraving on the surface of the bamboo. The decorative form are sculpture of figurines, birds, etc, the design would play on the solid and void of the material. This carving is the early work of the famous artist Zhang De He of Zhe style.
L400xW100mm, China
The lady’s headband, Mei Lei, was most popular in Ming and Qing dynasty. Thanks to the television drama, it is often associated as the costume of the granny, Mei Lei actually was a very fashionable item for women of all ages. When it was at the height of fashion many style of Mei Lei appeared; black silk with gemstone, cloth patchwork with pearl, gold and gemstone, cloth or silk with embroidery, fur with gemstone, beaded, etc. Like the snuff bottle for men, the headband was an accessory of status symbol. As a functional item, the Mei Lei can keep the hair tidy as well as keep warm. This particular Mei Lei is made of glass bead with a cloth lining on the inside.
Mountain Folkcraft 