In China, the pure beauty of nature has been treasured for centuries, and this is most evident in a collecting category called Gongshi. The art of Gongshi is typically regarded as the appreciation and collecting of highly unusual rocks, although today the category itself has been expanded to encompass highly unusual wood forms as well. Long ago...
This blog examines the deity Quan Yin, technically the Buddhist god of compassion and mercy, who has now become a popular icon capturing the imagination of Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike....
The purpose of this blog is to provide the reader with a useful, practical guide to interpreting the appearance of animal symbols in Chinese art and antiques....
The dictionary definition of provenance simply states it is the history of ownership of art and antiques; but this concept, while it can be used to gauge the value of western antiques, does not apply to furniture made in imperial China. This blog details what makes or informs antique Chinese furniture compared to the western idea of provenance....
“Cultural objects tell stories; and in each story a simple message is found—all cultures are the same, we just express ourselves differently”–GLEN JOFFE, OWNER
