Archives for posts with tag: something old something new

fire crackerDIA150mm, Hong Kong

A cheerful piece, like a bunch of fire crackers.  The sound of fire crackers  are symbols of festivity in China, particularly the Chinese New Year.

Once upon a time, the is a single horn creature named Eve, she is huge and bad tempered.  Around the end of the year, she will go to the village and cause chaos; fearing for their lives, the villagers will hide in the mountain.  One freezing winter, the villagers were on their way to the mountain hideout, they met a starving little boy.  They fed him with what little they have and brought him along to the cave.  The boy was curious why everyone, the young and the elders, is making an outing in such cold weather.  They told him about the Eve the monster and this is the only way to escape their death.  The boy told them he has a way of keeping Eve away, he asked them to chopped up some bamboo and to head back to the village.  When they were home, the boy asked them to pile bamboo pieces in the plaze and to hang a piece of red cloth in front of their door.  (Yes, I know you are wonder why they will trust a starving boy whom they found in the mountain, but this is how it goes …)  The boy told them to stay in door while he lure Eve into the village and at that point they would throw torches into the bamboo pile.  It is not long before the boy found the monster destroying the carts, the cloth seems to deter him from attacking the house.  Just as the villagers were about to throw the fire torches into the bamboo pile, Eve thrown the boy over with her horn.  The fire lightened up the bamboo and with its natural capsule causes a series of small explosion that frighten the Eve away.  When the villagers attended to the boy, he told them his name is Year and passed away the next day on Chinese New Year.  Though Eve has been scared away, the villagers feared her return, so on every New Year Eve, they would hang the red cloth over their doors and light up the fire crackers 爆竹.

Something Old Something New
Collectible Jewellery Collection

twins

DIA200mm, Hong Kong

The pair of babies next to the jade plaque are known as Happy Encounter, a romantic blessing symbol. They are holding a lotus flower 蓮, has the same pronunciation (lian) as the word 年 yearly. In the old days, with a high motility rate and the idea of continuing the family tree, having as many children is wish by many. Below the figurines hang a xiu qiu which is a traditional romantic keepsake.

twins

Something Old Something New
Collectible Jewellery Collection

beads

DIA200mm, China

Another necklace for causal wear.
Colourful glass beads matches with outfits or pick up on black and white.

Something Old Something New
Collectible Jewellery Collection

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

DIA210mm, Hong Kong

A minimum piece, ideal for jeans and leather.

Something Old Something New
Collectible Jewellery Collection

toolsDIA200mm, Hong Kong

New series of jewellery from the collectible jewellery collection.

Inspired by the traditional waist hanger which has various tools as both a fashionable and utilitarian accessories.  In this piece, toothpicks, miniature incense shovels, small knives and a comb are part of the decoration.  A decorative version of the Swiss army knife … ideal survival kit for the fashion conscious.

Something Old Something New
Collectible Jewellery Collection

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

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERADIA120mm, China

These fine strings which looks like rice noodles are hand woven strings.
Click on the photo and you can see the details of the knots carefully tied together.

The jade pendant of the necklace came from the form of an ancient head piece.

Something Old Something New
Collectible Jewellery Collection

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAL400mm, China

 A beautiful jade carving pendant of a Tao Tie with a yu bi hanging from his mouth.

According to the book Sheng An Wai Ji, the poet Yang Seng, described the nine sons of the dragon, Tao Tie is one of them.  They are;

Bi Xi, one who like carrying heavy stuff and often found with a stone tablet on his back.
Chi Wen, one who enjoys the vista, often found one the ridges of buildings.
Pu Lao, love music, found on bells.
Bi An, one who hates criminals, found on the lintel of the prison.
Tao Tie, one who loves to eat, found on lids and the side of cauldrons; sometimes found on the middle of the beam, it is believed that he can drank all the water and keep the flood away.
Gong Fu, love to play with water, found on bridges.
Ya Zi, a fierce creature with weapons.
Suan Ni, loves smoky fire, found on the lid of incense burner.
Jiao Tu, hates trespassers, oftern found on the main door.

This mythical creature, the fifth son of the dragon, is one who loves to eat made a perfect ornament for festive season.

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Something Old Something New
Collectible Jewellery Collection

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERADIA140mm, China

A  hetian jade butterfly pendant on beautifully hand woven necklace.

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Something Old Something New
Collectible Jewellery Collection

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAH70mm, China

A matching pair of ear rings that goes with the Miao neckwear on yesterday’s blog.  This pair of ear rings are also an assemblage of the accessories found on the Miao’s costume.

The ear rings look like a pair of Miao dancers.  Here is a video of the Miao dancers wearing costumes with accessories (but I am sure your eyes will be focus on the sweet little girl dancing along on the left)

Something Old Something New
Collectible Jewellery Collection