W180xD90xH130mm, China
This neat container has 2 compartments for storing tea leaves. Pewter has traditionally been material used the tea leaves storage, it is an alloy which oxidized more slowly then metal like iron or bronze and less reactive to the tea leaves which organic. Tea leaves is known to absorb the smell in the environment, pewter being an odorless also has an advantage over other materials. Last of all, it is easily shaped to create an air tight container.
W130xD130xH150m, China
A small wooden box with brass handles and buckles, perfect for a treasure hunt.
I have been wondering what a box like this would be for. The lock is rather redundant as the box is so small that the thief would have just grab it and go. Perhaps its a box for a child to keep all the little precious items; a pebble from the beach, a ginkgo leave, an unknown seed, a dice, feather of some bird, a seashell …
L210xD140xH100, China
Narcissus, daffodil, is a very popular plant in China especially for the Chinese New Year. So popular that there is a special container for its presentation. A month before Chinese New Year, one would find daffodil bulbs for sale in the market. The bulb would be placed inside the bowl, secured by pebbles and 2/3 of it cover with water. Up till the days before flowering, the water would be replaced daily, when it started to flower every 3 days. When the shoots started to appear, locate the bowl to a sunny but cool place. As daffodil is part of the New Year decoration, it is almost essential that it is blooming with flowers on New Year’s day, this normally takes 25 days at 20C, if lacks behind a bit of warm water on New Year’s eve would normally do the trick. And if all fails, one can always pay a bit more for the perfectly planted daffodil at the flower market.
DIA100xH40mm, Cambodia
This silver box is part of a betel set. Betel chewing, a tradition since prehistorical time, was a popular past time all over Asia, enjoyed by men and women alike, in all social levels. Betel leaf, areca nut, lime paste, camphor, cinnamon, nutmeg, tobacco etc are ingredients for betel chewing; they are stored in separate containers ready for consumption. These container can be made of ratten, wood, lacquered, copper, silver and even gold. In Cambodia, for common people silverware are not used as daily utensils, they are prized object used only for entertaining important people or in ceremonies.
W50XD40XH70mm, China
This copper-nickle silver boxes are used in the late Qing dynasty for storing opium. On the top of the box is a button for releasing the cover and also for attaching a string which can be tied to the waist. The boxes are well used and worn, as if they were something treasured by the owner. Knowing the history, its kind of sad looking at them, but at the same time they are a sharp reminder of what drugs can do to a person and a country.
W80xH180mm, Sumatra, Indonesia
Apology for yesterday’s misinformation, this is actually the stopper of the guri guri potion container, a container of magic for the Batak tribe.
The magical potion is known as guri guri, used by the datu to perform good as well as magic with evil intention. The guri guri is one of the most sacred object of the datu. The figurine is a human riding on singa. Singa is a mythological creature that is benevolent and powerful, it is described to be part human, part buffalo, part crocodile.
DIA150xH300mm, China
Gourd is kind of squash, its latin name is Lagenaria Siceraria, traditionally the Chinese view it as an icon of blessing. It has been with the Chinese culture for a long long time, its seeds were found at a Zhe Jiang 5000BC archaeological site, the hollowed out dried skin is probably the first liquid container used before pottery and bronze. It is also commonly used in the old days to store medicine, there is an old say, “wonder what kind of potion is stored in this gourd” meaning a suspicion of someone up to something.
The gourd used for the basket is not of the common “8” shape (see entry Small Gourd) form but a more rounded shape, which is a species from Japan.
L300xW120xH400mm, China
Deer is a symbol of blessing in China; deer in Chinese sounds like “lu” which means fortune and the salary for a emperor’s officials. This is a bamboo weaved deer container, zoom in closer and you will appreciate how the fine bamboo threads are.
DIA300XH100mm, Japan
This is a wooden container for the preparation of sumeshi
(rice used for sushi).
Mountain Folkcraft 