Archives for posts with tag: longevity
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Curious Item 3 – Dish with Spout

04/04/2014 //
4

dish with spoutDIA150xH40, China

A flat dish with a spout.

This is one of the items in the shop that I have problem finding out its use.

Spout – suggest the use for pouring out liquid, powder or beads?
Blue and white under glaze –  suggest a clear liquid (verse ink) so pattern can be appreciated?
Heavy & flat – suggest not intended to be handle often (unlike a teapot)?

If anyone has any idea how this item was intended to be used, please let me know!

If you are interested in solving puzzles, check out the other curious items; A Jade Tool, Paper Lacquered Tray.

Now back to the pattern; clouds and crane.  It is a popular ceramic pattern, it is believe that the crane is a mythical bird and symbolizes longevity.

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Categories container, pottery

Wine Cup

02/18/2014 //
0

cup

cup

DIA80xH60mm, China

This small wine cup is decorated with all the lucky symbols.

One the outside of the cup, are 5 red BATS circling the word LONGEVITY, next to it is a large green BAT hanging from it are a couple of GOLD COINS.  On the inside of the cup, there is a LOTUS leave at the bottom with LOTUS BLOSSOMS on the side.

BAT – the word BAT (蝠 fu) have the same pronunciation as the word (福fu), symbolizing being blessed.
LONGEVITY – needs no further explanation
GOLD COINS – wealth
LOTUS BLOSSOM – the lotus plant grows on muddy ponds, the idea that such beautiful flowers can appear untained by the mud resembles purity

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Categories container, pottery

Coconut Lid Containers

01/27/2014 //
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coconut lid container

DIA130xH110, DIA120xH90, DIA130xH60mm, Hong Kong

This is my newly completed pottery project, continuing with the Something Old Something New theme and the Lotus Leaf Vessel project.  I set out to make containers for these antique coconut lids which were featured on the blog a while back.  They are beautifully carved with the word “longevity” and the 8 lucky treasures and on the back are sealed with a lead lid.

The containers are glazed with bronze oxide on the exterior to match with the golden longevity symbol on the lids.  They will be perfect for offering sweets and other goodies over the Chinese New Year.

coconut lids

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Categories container, JT pottery, pottery, Uncategorized

Fu Lu Shou

10/24/2013 //
0

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

Peach Guo Mould

08/19/2013 //
2

cookie mouldW120xL230xD20mm, China

This is a wooden mould for making the famous red peach guo.  Guo is Chaozhou dumpling that is made for festivals as well as for everyday snacks.  The peach shaped guo reserved for festive days like the Chinese New Year, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid Autumn Festival, Winter Solstice, they are also made for the new born baby by the grandma on its hundred days’ celebration.

The peach shape symbolizes longevity, it is again emphasized by the word “壽” in the middle of the mould.

Here is the master mould carver working on a turtle shape guo mould.

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Categories tools, wood

Turtle Cookie Mould

02/05/2013 //
0

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

Mortar

08/10/2012 //
0

DIA80xH60mm, China

No, this is not rudolph.  Yes, the red nose is missing.  For the Chinese, not only does the deer symbolizes longevity, it also represented success as an official.  This cute container is a the base of a mortar, its small size suggest its for grinding medicinal seeds or nuts, e.g. garlic, pepper etc.

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Categories container, pottery, tools

Beads

12/02/2011 //
0

W200xL200mm, China

There are 2 lucky symbols on this glass bead mate; the Swastika signs at the corner and the longevity sign in the middle.  The 卐 (Swastika) sign has been passed on to China along with ancient Indian Buddhism religion.  In the 7th century, the Tang Empress Wu Ze Tian, ordered for its inclusion as a Chinese character, selected the right spinning version, to be pronounced as Wan with the meaning “the focal point of blessing from all direction”.  Since then apart from its original Buddhism uses, 卐 was also used as a household blessing symbol from embroidery to pottery and architectural decorations, the symbol also become more graphic and elaborated.  Longevity, has long been a symbol the Chinese adores for decoration.  This symbol on the beaded mate is one generated from the typography of the word Shou (longevity).

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Categories embroidery, glass
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