Archives for posts with tag: flower
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Flower Vase by King Fung

01/23/2013 //
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vaseDIA200xH320, Hong Kong

William Morris once said among the simple necessities that ought to furnish a room are a vase or two to put flowers in.  If you are getting just one vase for your “room” this one will be perfect.  And if you already have a collection of vases, this will be a delightful addition.  Its shaped made it very easy for arrange for tall stemmed flowers, like the ginger lily (Hedychium coronarium), widely available in the local markets, but under appreciated.

Stoneware body with semi matt cornish stone white glaze and orange underglaze enhancement. Thrown on wheel.

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Categories container, event, Mountain Folkcraft X Soil, pottery

Pomegranate

06/20/2012 //
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W70xD70xH100mm, China

I am sure not by the craftsman’s intent but this item just put a smile on my face, a grinning pomegranate! It can even pass as an anime figure.

Pomegranate was imported into China in the Han dynasty from Persia, because of its beautiful flowers, it was immediately loved by the country.  It blossoms in lunar May, being such an event May is also known as the pomegranate month.  Apart from its flowers, pomegranate is seen as a symbol of blessing in China; a symbol of fertility, a single fruit it bears over 1000 seeds!

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Categories lacquer, wood

Stone Carving

06/11/2012 //
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W80xL60mm, China

This is a stone carving use for the decoration of a small yan ping (see our other entries; yan ping and again yan ping).  Yan Ping is part of the Chinese stationary, it is designed to be used as a screen for shielding the ink well from drying.  The carving is a relief of the chrysanthemum flowers from a small piece of stone, the slight polish gave the flower its shading and tones.

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Categories stationary, stone

Tiger Lily

02/12/2012 //
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W150xH150xL250mm, Thailand

A Korean legend about the tiger lily; once upon a time … there was a hermit who save a tiger by removing a arrow from his wound.  The tiger requested the hermit to use his magic to extend their friendship after his death.  After the death of the tiger, where his body lay sprouted a tiger lily.  The hermit got drown by the river and his body was washed away, tiger lily spreaded along the river bank as though the tiger was looking for his missing friend.

These are the first fake flower that I can appreciate, each petal are carved out from wood.

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Categories wood

Xiu Qiu

01/09/2012 //
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DIA120mm, China

Yesterday we talked about a representation of  the Xiu Qiu on wood carving (see Golden Wood Carving-01/08/2012), here is the real thing.  The legend behind the Xiu Qiu is a love story; some 800 years ago in the old town of Jing Xi, Ah Di was in love the with girl Ah Xiu of the neighboring village.  One spring, when Ah Xiu was shopping in the market, a rich arrogant brat had his eyes on her and want her as his wife.  Ah Xiu turned down the proposal because of her love for Ah Di.  When the wealthy guy was furious and bribed the court to give Ah Di a death sentence.  Ah Xiu was blinded by her tears but she decided to make a xiu qiu for Ah Di as a keepsake.  Before the execution Ah Xiu visited Ah Di at the prison and gave him the xiu qiu as a gesture of her love for him, at that moment the siu qiu lighted up and transported both of them to a place far away from their villages.  And of course, they lived happily ever after …  Since then it became a popular keepsake.

For its resemblance, the Chinese has also named the Hydrangea as the Xiu Qiu flower.

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Categories fabric, toy

Ikebana Basket

11/02/2011 //
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Dia110xH400mm, Japan

Bamboo as a material has been a very well utilised in Japan (and Asia) such that bamboo weaving became a specialized craft. Bamboo tree of 3-4 years old are cut, boiled to remove the oil and dried under the sun (there colour would turn from green to brown).  The bamboo is first split by a tool known as the Kikuwari (which looks a bit like the fruit cutter) dividing the bamboo stem into equal divisions.  The surface of the bamboo is then scrap off to allow the lacquer or other finishes to absorb.  To make the higo, each of the large section is split into half with the knife from the back side of the bamboo, the strip is peeled and then strip again to the desired width.  Finally, each strip is then rounded off on the 2 sides and the thickness evened, the higo is ready for weaving.  All these steps might sound simple but will take a very experience craftman to produce good quality higo, just for using the kikuwari to split straight down would take at least 3 years of practice.  This is a simple bamboo ikebana basket for Japanese flower decoration.

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Categories bamboo, container
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