Archives for posts with tag: mountain folkcraft

DIA170mm, Hong Kong

Here another unique piece of jewellery designed for the Something Old Something New collection.  These are unique one off item designed to suit the beads we have, you will never have a jewellery clash with someone at an exhibition opening or at a dinner reception.  Come check them out!

original long life locket

DIA210mm, China

For the Something Old Something New jewellery collection, there is of course something old.  This is an original long life locket, this locket, being 30omm in length would be too long for any baby to hang around the neck, it would have been hanged in the bedroom of the child which is a tradition of the Jiang Su area.  Such locket would be a gift from the god parents.  For the history of long life locket, check out our previous post locket.

If you look closely in the enlarged photo, you can see the kirin boy decorated on the locket.

This item was sold just as soon as we hang it up, but its such a nice item, I decided to include in the blog nonetheless.

DIA80mm, Hong Kong

Apart from elaborated neckwear, we also have casual items,  Here is a handmade casual leather bracelet.

DIA220mm, Hong Kong

These cubical boxes were the ornamental bells that were attached to the long life lockets, they were the traditional version of the baby monitor.  When the bells are making a sound the baby is alright, its moving and has not wandered off.  This new composition for the Mountain Folkcraft Something Old Something New jewellery collection, somehow has a reminded me of John Hejduk’s architecture.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERADIA180(L280mm), Hong Kong

For the celebration of the arrival of 2013, the Something Old Something New jewellery collection brings you the lucky blessing of the kirin boy.  The kirin, a mystical creature which the Chinese believe to have magical power, it also took on the role of the stork for delivery babies.  This role was attributed to the kirin from the legend of Confucius at the time before he was born; one night a kirin with a scroll in his mouth appeared in front of his parents’ house, the scroll, an announcement from heaven, has the words “he will be a wise man with good morality, though he does not have a throne, he has the virtue of a king”.  The next morning, the kirin disappeared and Confucius was born, sine then the kirin is associated with delivering babies with talents.  The kirin boy pendent, like the long life locket is a special blessing for the child wearing it.

Here is the “making off”, featuring an antique kirin boy silver pendent.

kirin boy 3

lotus

DIA160mm, Hong Kong

For the Something Old Something New Jewellery Collection, we have a jade double lotus neckwear.  The twin lotus, Bingdi lotus, has 2 flowers on a single stem, there are more rare than having a twin for human.  For the Chinese it is a symbol of solidarity, being from the same branch, same heart, use to describe a loving couple.

Unfortunately, before I have a chance to post it on the blog, this unique item has already been sold.  But its such a nice piece that I could not resist of putting it on the blog anyway.

Follow the complete flowering process of the twin lotus here.

13 locket

DIA165mm, Hong Kong

To keep everyone safe for the rumor of today being the end of the world, we have an old long life lockets for tonight’s post.

Long life lockets are normally given to a baby on its 100th day’s birthday by the grandmother as a blessing for the child.  In old China when mortality rate is high, the locket is a symbol of locking the child’s life to this world.  There are 4 words on this locket, “13 Tai Bao”, Tai Bao is a high level court official whose duty is to care and guide the emperor.  Legend has it Guang Hui Wang has 13 sons who  are on earth to care and guide humanity.  The 13 Tai Bao is so well known for their protection that even a famous herbal tea for securing pregnancy is named after them.

See our other references of the long life lockets; Silver Necklace, Clay Doll – A Fu, Du Dou Embroidery, Locket.

Mother of PearlDIA180mm, Hong Kong

Who needs pearl when you have mother of pearl!?

3 pongsDIA165mm, Hong Kong

The number 3, though not a number found on the human body is a number of many famous triads.  Man, Woman and Child; Birth, Life and Death;  Beauty, Gentleness and Friendship and of course, Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

bronze coral

DIA160mm, Hong Kong

Another unique necklace for the Something Old Something New jewellery collection, string of irregular coral inter-winded together.