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Quiet Luxury: Lozano Jolas Interiors at the 54th Cooks’ Home Tour
Continue ReadingWith an eye for sophistication, it’s no wonder design firm Lozano Jolas Interiors was invited to redesign a featured home in the 54th Annual Cooks’ Tour benefit, a one-day tour of four magnificent properties across Chicago’s North Shore in support of the Rush University Medical Center. Partnering with PAGODA RED to create an unforgettable experience, […]
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Blue & White: Designer Suzan Hadaway on Collecting
Continue ReadingOpen a decor magazine, or your design socials, and an encounter with blue & white Chinese porcelain seems inevitable. There it is, on a mantel in London, in an elaborate tablescape in Paris, on the white oak shelves of a sunny loft. The centuries-old craft, with its endless pattern variations and perennially popular colorway, has […]
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Fashion’s Eye on Monstrous Beauty: At The Met with Betsy Nathan & Sarah Hand
Continue ReadingThere’s still time to catch Monstrous Beauty: A Feminist Revision of Chinoiserie at The Met on view through August 17th. I was lucky enough to see it with my dear friend from Hamilton College, Sarah Hand. She has extraordinary taste and has been a fashion insider for over 30 years. While I was visiting New […]
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Hints of History: Alice Benjamin & Andrea Schumacher Make What’s Old New Again
Continue ReadingInfusing soul and depth to a space—be it in a contemporary or vintage home—is a top priority for many of our favorite designers. This is where antiquities play a pivotal role, making a home feel collected, thoughtful and, perhaps most importantly, deeply personal. The delicate craftsmanship of Qing dynasty Chinese latticework and vernacular furniture adds […]
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Sculpting with Color: The Art of Peking Glass
Continue ReadingAlthough practiced for centuries, Chinese glass-making gained prominence during the Qing-dynasty with the introduction of Peking glass. Originally used for the production of snuff bottles, a favored imperial gift, Peking glass has origins in the Kangxi period (1662-1722), when the Emperor first established a glassmaking workshop in the imperial palace in Beijing. Adapting Italian glass […]
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Pipe Dreams: The Opulence of Chinese Opium Accessories
Continue ReadingBeginning in the 18th century, recreational opium smoking became an entire culture unto itself, replete with beautifully crafted paraphernalia that provided an opportunity to express one’s taste and aesthetic refinement. We’re honored to have recently become stewards of a vast collection of antique Chinese opium accessories. A feat of collecting that took a decade to […]
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As You Wish: The Ruyi Symbol and Magical Mushrooms in Chinese & Japanese Decorative Arts
Continue ReadingIn modern pop culture, “as you wish” is the catchphrase of secretive pirates and all-powerful genies. Say it aloud at a party, and film fans will immediately think of Wesley’s devotion to Buttercup in The Princess Bride. It’s a phrase from fiction, one that builds on our fascination with objects and people that could magically […]
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Kintsugi, Ju Ci, & the Art of Repair
Continue ReadingThe Japanese arts of kintsugi and sashiko have permeated pop culture and fashion, from the kintsugi repairs on Kylo Ren’s helmet in The Last Skywalker in to the sashiko patches on Y3 sneakers and Valentino jeans. Their beauty is the obvious draw, but the philosophy behind these arts also resonates. After all, kintsugi, sashiko, and […]
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Portrait of a Lady: Women in Chinese Art
Continue ReadingPAGODA RED is full of evocative hints of past lives — a delicate silk shoe, a bespoke home for a much-loved songbird, an elaborate jewelry box from a bygone era. Beyond the evocative, we’re also a showcase of evolving craftsmanship and tastes over time. Our expansive collection lets design history unfold, over centuries of fine […]
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10 Ways to Give Love & Happiness
Continue ReadingA traditional sign of love and marriage, double happiness (囍) is the Chinese equivalent of a heart shape. Magpies, plum blossoms, peaches, leopards, cranes, pomegranates and the color pink all express deep feelings in subtle ways. Decorating a vase or embroidered in silk, these unassuming motifs transform any object into a romantic gift, perfect for […]