Traditional Chinese Art Treasures -- Inside Painted Snuff Bottle

Article by Jasmine JJ

Snuff bottle had been an exotic goods, it was taken to China by Italian missionary during the Ming Dynasty. However, after face-lift via Chinese traditional art, later with the production and painting technologies become more and more sophisticated increasingly, snuff bottle become a symbol of identity and taste in the socitey. Both at the London Expo held in 1862 and Panama Expo held in 1915, Chinese snuff bottles won special medals.Snuff bottles were used by the Chinese during the Qing Dynasty to contain powdered tobacco. Smoking tobacco was illegal during the Dynasty, but the use of snuff was allowed because the Chinese considered snuff to be a remedy for common illnesses such as colds, headaches and stomach disorders. Therefore, snuff was carried in a small bottle like other medicines. The snuff bottle is comparable to the snuff box used by Europeans.Original snuff bottles from the Qing period are a desirable target for serious collectors and museums. A good bottle has an extra quality over and above its exquisite beauty and value: that is touch. Snuff bottles were made to be held and so, as a rule, they have a wonderful tactile quality.

Snuff bottles were made out of many different materials including porcelain, jade, ivory, wood, tortoiseshell, metal and ceramic, though probably the most commonly used material was glass.The snuff bottle winning prizes at World Expo is an inside-painted snuff bottle. The so-called inside-painting, namely use a specific fine brush, painted exquisite picture inside the snuff bottle by hand.

The class of bottle that arouses most interest is that known as inside painted. These are glass bottles which have pictures and often calligraphy painted on the inside surface of the glass. These delightful scenes are only an inch or two high and are painted while manipulating the brush through the neck of the bottle.There still has production of inside-painted snuff bottles today, as a pure artwork, snuff bottles had been wiped off its original practical! value. While the workmanship of inside hand painting has passed on from generation to generation, and become an essence of traditional Chinese art.

China Furniture and Arts -- Carved Wood Furniture: The Process

China Furniture and Arts has had over half a century of experience with wood carving. Modern technology has made furniture crafting easier, but we remain true to traditional wood carving techniques. Each carving can take hours to complete, but the craft takes years to perfect. Understanding the processes that are involved in wood carving make us better appreciate the beauty and skill in the art. China Furniture and Arts, based out of Chicago, but with roots in the carpentry of Shanghai, is a premier provider of Asian home decor. We have a large variety of selections. From complete room settings to fine collectible accessories, we constantly inventory more than 4000 items and over 2500 of them are available online. We can also custom design to meet your unique needs. Our 28 years of experience in the North American market has allowed us to create award-winning designs, combining beautiful traditional Chinese styles with functions for today's modern lifestyle. We at China Furniture and Arts not only understand the beauty of Chinese art and the delicacy of the work, but also the stories behind each piece. We insist all of our handcrafted products to be manufactured with traditional techniques. All pieces we select are from its origin and our Chinese inspired product designs are truthful to its original. Visit China Furniture and Arts' showroom at: 35 S. Cass Avenue Westmont, IL 60559 T: 1-888-786-6888 or online at www.ChinaFurnitureOnline.com . For more information on our ...

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The Flower Phoenix is an ancient handscroll which has been created through generations of women artists. The original page of the handscroll was created by China's Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai. The Tang Dynasty is considered by many to be the height of Chinese artistic culture, and Li Bai is China's most renowned ancient poet. Li Bai was inspired by the beauty of Yang Mei. Yang Mei inspires the master painter Wu Daozi. Wu Daozi creates the second page of the Flower Phoenix handscroll. Legends say that Wu Daozi was a mystical painter, who at the end of his life painted a doorway in the side of a mountain, opened the door and disappeared forever.

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Hand scroll paintings were rolled from one side to the other and as each painted section was revealed, the story of the imagery was viewed and discussed. The book unfolds over many generations and the lives of the long line of women artists who created the Flower Phoenix are brought to life by the telling.The Flower Phoenix is an ancient handscroll which has been created through generations of women artists. The original page of the handscroll was created by China's Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai. The Tang Dynasty is considered by many to be the height of Chinese artistic culture, and Li Bai is China's most renowned ancient poet. Li Bai was inspired by the beauty of Yang Mei. Yang Mei inspires the master painter Wu Daozi. Wu Daozi creates the second page of the Flower Phoenix handscroll. Legends say that Wu Daozi was a mystical painter, who at the end of his life painted a doorway in the side of a mountain, opened the door and disappe! ared for ever.

Each generation creates panels in the book. By telling the story, the storyteller creates a portal into the Realm of the Flower Phoenix. The "storybearer" reads the story and summons the power of the energy of all the generations.

The story opens with Mable "Peach Blossom" Yang's one hundredth birthday celebration. She is going to pass the book on to the next generation. Mable is the most potent storybearer in the family line.

Hand scroll paintings were rolled from one side to the other and as each painted section was revealed, the story of the imagery was viewed and discussed. The book unfolds over many generations and the lives of the long line of women artists who created the Flower Phoenix are brought to life by the telling.

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  • Vintage
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  • 13" wide x 13" deep x 16.5" high
Chinese painted fancy food basket with carved images of bats of happiness and deer on lid and other Chinese symbols on the bottom rim. Reed handles and red lacquered finish.

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Chinese calligraphy writing and brush painting / sumi set

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  • Size: 8.5" x 6"
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Treasury of Chinese Folk Tales: Beloved Myths and Legends from the Middle Kingdom (No Series)

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