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Collector’s Edition: Martial Arts Weights
Continue ReadingThese exercise weights were used in China during the 18th and 19th century for martial arts training. Owner Betsy Nathan collected each sculptural stone, one by one, over the past decade. We’re excited to exhibit them together as a collection, for the first time. To learn more about the history of stone weights in Chinese martial […]
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8 Ways to Bring In Peace & Calm
Continue ReadingFor those in search of calm and contemplation, China, Japan and other Asian nations are wonderful sources. Objects are filled with the iconography of peace. Many Chinese symbols are visual puns. Vase (ping 瓶) and peace (pingan 平安) are homonyms; crab (蟹) and harmony (协) share the xie sound. The phoenix and the Buddha are […]
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Make a Moss & Stone Arrangement
Continue ReadingMushrooms, moss, and succulents, oh my. As temperatures drop outside, bring some nature indoors. How? By making you’re very own taihu stone or bamboo basket floral arrangement. Let’s get started! Ingredients Flat Stone (we used a Taihu Stone) or… Bamboo Basket (we used a round one) Venus Slipper Orchids Echeveria Cuttings Tree Conk Mushroom Shag & Feather Moss […]
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Beyond Basics: Using Asian Antiques in the Bathroom
Continue ReadingThe beauty and history of Chinese objects can transform even the smallest, most unexpected spaces. Explore the possibilities of using Asian antiques in the bathroom. Here are a few ideas for you to try: 1. Use a 19th c. hand carved burled basket to contain tissues, toiletries, and more. 2. Utilized in ancient calligraphy practices, this […]
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Wen Zhenheng: Ming Dynasty Minimalist
Continue ReadingWen Zhenheng was the Ming dynasty’s Anna Wintour. A scholar from the late Ming period, Wen documented his philosophy of home design nearly 400 years before the advent of Vogue or Architectural Digest. His Treatise on Superfluous Things remains one of the era’s most compelling glimpses into classic Chinese interior design. Those who must exist amidst […]
