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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 […]
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PAGODA RED Essentials: Custom Waterfall Tables
Continue ReadingIf PAGODA RED was a fashion house, custom reclaimed wood waterfall tables would be our signature little black dress. Our clients and designers love them for the same reason black dresses endure — they’re effortless, chic, and can be dressed up or down depending on the space. Each table is designed in-house, crafted with 18th […]
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A Moment Worth Celebrating: Evan Millárd at the Lake Forest Showhouse
Continue ReadingThe 2023 Lake Forest Showhouse is a pop-up design wonderland, full of creative possibilities and inspiration. The lavish estate was originally designed by Walter Frazier in 1969 and has been updated and re-imagined by 33 interior designers and 8 landscape architects. Nashville-based designer Evan Millárd was one of several designers who worked with PAGODA RED to […]
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Luxe Life: The Custom Homes of Chinese Songbirds
Continue Reading“Songbirds brush the eaves in flight and fish dart through the waterweed, men of elegance and taste, apprehending their nature, do not weary of watching them all day long.” – Wen Zhenheng, translated by Tony Blishen The practice of keeping a small songbird as a pet is a longstanding tradition in China dating back to […]
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Yaji Gardens: Antidotes to Modern Life
Continue ReadingIn ancient China, elaborate gardens were closely associated with the upper class—who enjoyed palatial estates and grounds stocked with rare flora and fauna. But a new, more intimate garden gained popularity during the Mongol occupation (in the late 13th and early 14th century). In concert with a renewed emphasis upon the arts, the spaces—designed specifically […]
