Wabi Sabi Patina<\/h2>\n
As people push back against a culture of disposability, they are seeking out special objects with rich histories. Even in the most modern, minimalist interiors, pieces with timeworn finishes bring a sense of warmth, humanity and gravitas. With age comes a special kind of quiet beauty, accrued over many lifetimes. Memorable pieces are imbued with their own meaningful stories, which can be felt.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.pagodared.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Reclaimed_Wood_Console_Table_SOPR0004_05-copy-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/a>Blonde Provincial Reclaimed Elm Waterfall Console Table<\/a>\u00a0 | W: 78.0″ D: 21.0″ H: 32.0″<\/p><\/div>\n Made of wood reclaimed from 18th-century Chinese buildings, this contemporary altar table honors its materials with clean lines and minimal ornamentation. Skilled in traditional joinery techniques, our craftspeople have fashioned a simple waterfall table that brings forth the expressive grain and raw texture of the vintage elmwood timber. The made-to-order table charms with its irregular surface, mottled color, and fascinating array of knots, splits, and nail holes.<\/p>\n Early Qing Paneled Cabinet<\/a> | c. 1650 | W: 43.25″ D: 21.0″ H: 79.0″<\/p><\/div>\n The cabinet above is an exquisite example of 17th-century mortise and tenon joinery. It features two paneled doors attached with small barrel hinges, a reference to cabinets thousands of years older. Notably, this masterfully made cabinet was originally lacquered both inside and out. The aged lacquer has a wondrous patina which heightens the piece’s spectacular character.<\/p>\n In a climate of fast-paced change, when it’s difficult to find moments of calm, courtyard gardens appeal to our desire to turn inward and seek solace. From Mexico to\u00a0China\u00a0<\/a>and Japan, courtyards are are rooted in the traditional\u00a0residences of monks and\u00a0scholars<\/a>, but remain popular, thanks their low-maintenance, human-scale appeal.<\/p>\n A courtyard garden designed by PAGODA RED, featuring a selection of stone troughs, a stone bench, and a cast iron basin.<\/p><\/div>\n Even in homes without natural enclosures, a courtyard-style garden can be created with the addition of\u00a0lattice panels or containers. They can be especially lovely in warm climates like Los Angeles, where indoor and outdoor living is seamless.<\/p>\n Set of Four Quadrilobe Lattice Courtyard Panels<\/a> | c. 1850 | W: 23.0″ D: 2.0″ H: 116.0″<\/p><\/div>\n The pair of courtyard panels above, boasting geometric lattice screens\u00a0evoke life in a traditional courtyard home. The lattice pattern is linear and open, allowing light and air through while maintaining a peaceful solitude. We’d love to see these placed outside of a ground-floor window to offer privacy screening, along with a beautiful backdrop for plantings.<\/p>\n Both a restrained aesthetic and an antidote to ascetic minimalism, this approach applies custom artistry to the bones of a room \u2014walls, floors, trim, and hardware. Luxe craft interiors favor handmade, tactile materials like lime-wash plaster walls,\u00a0lacquered doors, artisan-made tiles, and\u00a0vintage fixtures<\/a>. The aesthetic hearkens back to a more ancient form of minimalism, such as that of\u00a0Ming Dynasty China<\/a>, when seemingly simple furniture pieces were the result of complex mortise-and-tenon craftsmanship.<\/p>\n Black Lacquer Splayed Foot Scholars’ Table<\/a> | c. 1850 | W: 92.25″ | D: 19.5″ | H: 34.0″<\/p><\/div>\n This narrow table would have been favored by a Chinese scholar for its well-executed curves, gracefully arched like the sweep of a calligraphy brushstroke. Constructed with traditional joinery techniques for a seamless appearance, the table was then painstakingly coated with layers of rich, black lacquer. Unembellished and clean-lined, the table is a wonderful example of the intersection of minimalism and craft that this look embodies.<\/p>\n Pair of Architectural Valances<\/a> | c. 1750 | W: 116.0″ D: 2.5″ H: 12.0″<\/p><\/div>\n Carved over 250 years ago in China’s Shanxi province, the valances above are dotted with flower buds tucked inside ornate scrollwork. Despite their exuberant carvings, the valances offer a gentle elegance, making the pair a remarkable compliment to otherwise spare surroundings. Not many architectural elements of this size and age survived the Cultural Revolution, making them an exceedingly rare find.<\/p>\n Many of the renowned designers we work with address each one of the senses in the rooms they create. Scent\u2014once considered an afterthought or background element\u2014is now having its moment in the forefront. Incense, aromatic herbs, and essential oils are growing in popularity as a way to connect interiors with nature and conjure unseen worlds. Ancient objects like\u00a0incense bowls, braziers, censers and tables\u00a0tap into the sense of ritual that accompanies scent.<\/p>\n Brass Gourd Form Brazier<\/a> | c. 1850 | W: 5.75″ D: 5.0″ H: 3.5″<\/p><\/div>\n Once filled with burning coals to warm the hands of a wealthy woman in 1850’s Northern China, this exquisitely crafted brazier makes for a sophisticated incense burner today. The precisely pierced top, designed to emit heat, adds texture and dimension to the piece’s sculptural value. Gourd form braziers are particularly unusual, making this the beginning or continuation of a great collection.<\/p>\n Stone Top Incense Table<\/a> | c. 1800\u00a0 | W: 27.5″ D: 27.5″ H: 31.75″ | Limestone, Cyprus<\/p><\/div>\n In more than 20 years of collecting, we’ve never encountered a stone top as distinctive as the one on this table. The undercut, decorative-edged top has aged exquisitely over hundreds of years. Originally, it was likely used for incense offerings, as limestone is scorch resistant. A crack to the stone has been restored beautifully, adding to the richness of its character.<\/p>\n This Japanese art of repairing broken pottery using lacquer mixed with precious metals, feels so appropriate to our current time and place. Repair is celebrated, rather than thought of as something to disguise. In an age of division, it’s a helpful philosophy\u2014damage cannot be undone, but it can also be an opportunity to create something new\u2014perhaps more beautiful than before. We used this technique in the concrete floors of our\u00a0new Bucktown gallery and studio, and it’s one of the details we notice and appreciate every day.<\/p>\n A view of the Kintsukuroi floor treatment in our freshly renovated \u201crough luxe\u201d Bucktown space<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.pagodared.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/qing_paneled_cabinet_GDC017_01-copy-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/a>Courtyard Gardens<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.pagodared.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/CMTBAS-MichaelThompson-web-1024x685.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.pagodared.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Set_of_Four_Quadrilobe_lattice_panels_Composite_ZZZ096_05-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/a>Luxe Craft<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.pagodared.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/black_lacquer_splayed_foot_altar_table_BJD097_01-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/a>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.pagodared.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Pair_of_Valances_Q173CD_09-copy-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/a>Bespoke Scents<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.pagodared.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/brass_gourd_form_brazier_CMKH143-1-copy-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/a>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.pagodared.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/stone_top_incense_table_M024_01-copy-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/a>Kintsukuroi<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.pagodared.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/WarehouseFloor-1024x768.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.pagodared.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/WarehouseFloor2-713x1024.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.pagodared.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Trade-Progam-divide.jpg\")
<\/p>\n