Archives for posts with tag: paper

P1040706bW300xH240mm, China

Today, 4th Feburary 2015 marks the beginning of spring, “Li Chun” is the first term of the 24 solar terms in the lunar calendar.  You might notice that from today onward, the temperature, sunlight as well as the rain would increase, the cold wind would be replaced by warming breeze, the ground started to defrost, 5 days on even the worms would appear, another 5 days you will find fish swimming to the surface of the water.

For the farms, the arrival spring begin a new year of growth, this wood block print would be posted up in the manger to safe guard the livestock from disease and enable a lively stock.
On the left sits the God of the Ox and the right with 3 eyes, the God of the horse, next to them their officers.

The villagers would prepare a large ox figure made of clay, inside to be stuffed with grains, on the day of Li Chun it will be whipped into pieces, the broken clay would be taken home and put into the manger, a symbol that it will always be filled.

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W380xH520mm, China

Bird and the Plum Blossom,
a traditional and popular composition for Chinese crafts.

A play on the phase 喜上眉梢 (xi shang mei shao), one is so happy that joy is expressed when in the eye brow.  You might wonder what a facial express has to do with plum blossom and bird.  The bird is 喜鵲 pica pica (magpie), its climbing on the plum branch 喜上梅梢 (xi shang mei que) has the same pronunciation has this uncontrollable joy.

Bird and Plum Blossom theme with
pearl inlay craft – pearl box,
pottery pattern – plum & bird plate,
ceramic figurines – pottery birds,
wood carving – birds in plum blossom

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W370xH320mm, China

Once upon a time, the princess of the Dragon King decided to sneak out of the palace in disguised as a 3 legged toad.  She left the Dragon Lake and hopped along the stream, in the wood a large python was thinking a toad would make a good lunch.  Luckily this was spotted by the young Liu Hau who was collecting logs for fire, Liu rescued the toad just as the python was about to make his attack.  The princes was moved and left him a magic dragon pearl.  After returning to the palace, the princess found herself in love with Liu so she sneaked out as a toad to look for him.  One day, Liu came by the Dragon Lake for a drink of water and saw a string of coins, he looked around for the person who have left it behind but there were no one around, though poor Liu didnt keep it for himself.  As he started to head home, the string of coins started to ring.  Little did he know that the princess toad was holding the other end of the string in the lake, she was hoping to attract his attention with the coins.  While he was examining the ringing coins, the python had returned to make his revenge and attack Liu from behind, out of desperation the toad thrown herself in between the two to protect Liu.  With the distraction, Liu managed to picked up the axe he used for chopping woods and split the python in half.  He was grateful for the little toad and started to play with it with string of coins, Liu said, “it would be great if you are a young girl, then we can get married and play together all the time.”.  The toad hopped behind him, Liu felt the string got a stronger pull, turning around he found a beautiful girl standing behind him.  Liu was shocked, “where is my little toad and who are you?”  The girl told her the whole story and Liu was moved and the two lived happily ever after.

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P1040756b

 

W440xH300mm, China

The pekingese dogs featured in yesterday’s post is also known as a “shi zi” dog, a lion dog.

Lion, shi zi, is not an animal originated from China, its legendary power and strength has captured the imagination of the people. Though worship for their bravery and power, they are often portrayed as a playful creature.  Looking at the clip of the two lions playing, it seems that the Chinese image of the lion look closer to that of a pekingese dog than the lion itself.  I wonder if shi zi dog (pekingese) would have been bred basing on this traditional image of the shi zi.

P1040755b

W440xH300mm, China

A wood block print of two lively pekingese playing in the fields.
Pekingese dogs were known to be the emperors’ pets, roaming about in the palace.

This print is paired with a print of 2 shi zi (lions) playing which will be on tomorrow’s post.

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W200xD330xH260mm, Hong Kong (NOT FOR SALE)

For Spikey‘s birthday, we have a paper mache Spike!

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You can see more of spike in his own blog
http://spiketang.wordpress.com/

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W170xH280mm, China

This paper cutout is a pair of candles on the wedding candle stand.  On the candle stand is the word double happiness “喜喜”, the two of them giving the joy of quadruple happiness!  Candles are a symbol of marriage, the word 花燭 Hua Zhu (flower candle) is synonymous with marriage.  These red wedding candles will be placed in the living room as well as the bedroom of the couple.  It is however interesting to know that the use of flower candles were initially for the bride’s family, to console the departure of their beloved daughter.

Amongst the unique pottery, you will also find Mountain Folkcraft’s collection at the Cobo Ceramic Workshop X’mas Sale.

COBO CERAMIC WORKSHOP
1/F Fortune Court, 33 Morrison Hill Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

5 – 9 Dec 2014 (Fri – Tue)
13:00-20:00

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The new issue (issue 9) of Ha Wan Pao is out and is available at Mountain Folkcraft and the following stocklists.

Come and get your copy now!

Ha Wan Pao is a monthly paper about people who make beautiful things. whether they’re making comic books, tofu or shoes; what they have in common is the quiet pursuit of excellence.
Ha Wan (下環) is an old name for Wanchai – the Hong Kong neighbourhood where the project was born.

HWP is created by Anna Gleeson with contributions from Furze Chan.

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W140xL140mm, Hong Kong

Its the time of the year to start writing your X’mas cards!

Come and pick up our x’mas cards along with the other gifts.

Here is the list of dates you need to post your cards and gifts to get to the destination in time!

 

P1040617b

W550xH400mm, China

The title for this wood block entitled, A Tank Full of Gold Fish, 金魚滿堂 (jin yu man tang).  Though gold fish is a popular pet for the Chinese, the blessing behind the cute gold fish is a play with homophone.  The words 金玉滿堂 also share the same pronunciation but instead of gold fish, the large space is filled with gold and jade.

It seems tremendously greedy to wish for a room to be filled with money, but throughout history China has been war, famine and hardship, a wish portrayed in the form of cheerful gold fish is for some the only thing that keep them going and maybe one day, they will have their living room filled with gold and jade.