A Rug for Every Person – Tibetan Pile Carpets
Authentic antique Tibetan rugs are difficult to come by simply because very few remain. The saying, a rug for every person is believed to also imply that the…
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Art in Bloom – Japanese Jubako and Fubako
Japanese lacquer works developed a distinct style emphasizing lyrical and elegant surface decorations used to decorate a wide variety of objects, including Buddhist artwork, writing boxes (fubako), altars,…
Appreciating Gongshi: Part One – Early Standards and Scholar’s Rocks
During the Song dynasty, collecting Gongshi became an art form in and of itself. At that time, four attributes or standards were considered important in establishing the beauty…
Nature’s Alchemy – Petrified Wood
Petrified wood is a unique type of fossil formed when trees are buried underground for millions of years, turning them to stone. With decorative elements of both wood…
Cheers! – Kuba Ceremonial Wine Cups
The Kuba people of present day Democratic Republic of Congo are renowned for their decorative arts, which also extend to their palm wine cups. Elaborately carved in figurative…
Lost at Sea – Shipwreck Ceramics
In the last several decades, the ocean floors in Southeast Asia have yielded a new category of sunken treasures – antique ceramics. Since ancient times cargo ships traveled…
Brian Sindler – Beyond Plein Air Painting
Brian Sindler is an award-winning contemporary plein air artist yet his works encompass a far greater depth and complexity than traditional landscape painting. Conveying mood and emotion through…
Lasting Impressions – European Influence on African Art
The influence of European aesthetics on African art can be traced as far back as the 15th century when the Portuguese first landed on the continent. In particular,…
The Sound of Harmony – Tibetan Singing Bowls
Tibetan singing bowls were traditionally used by Buddhist monks to focus and center the mind during meditations. Made from a unique composition of five or seven metals believed…
Royal Stone – Makrana Marble Carving in India
Pure white marble quarried from Makrana in Rajasthan is considered the finest in all of India and has come to characterize some of the most famous architectures, including…