The hibachi (Japanese: 火鉢, fire bowl) is a traditional Japanese heating device. It is a brazier which is either round, cylindrical, or box-shaped, open-topped container, made from or lined with a heatproof material and designed to hold burning charcoal. It is believed hibachi date back to the Heian period (794 to 1185). It is filled […]
In 1641, Nicolas Fouquet, a young parliamentarian of 26, acquired the fiefdom of Vaux-le-Vicomte. Twenty years later, he created a unique masterpiece: the castle and garden are among the most beautiful in France. For the first time in history, this visionary brought together on a single project Victim of a plot by Colbert and Louis […]
We feel it’s necessary to set the record straight on the Korean staircase. Indeed, numerous posts on our group as well as the regular presentation of this type of furniture and their erroneous descriptions in auctions or galleries lead us to settle this case once and for all. Here are just a few examples with […]
HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN WOOD PUTTY With plenty of commercial wood fillers and wood putties available, you might wonder why you would want to make your own wood filler. After all, many off-the-shelf wood fillers are even tinted to mimic the colors of different woods. Still, many skilled woodworkers make their own wood fillers, […]
Wassily Kandinsky was born on December 16th, 1866, in Moscow, in a well-to-do family of a businessman in a good cultural environment. In 1871 the family moved to Odessa where his father ran his tea factory. There, alongside with attending a classical gymnasium (grammar school), the boy learned to play the piano and […]
These Chinese large embroideries illustrate a folklore story of 3 lives entangled combat between “青龍 Qīnglóng” (azure dragon) and “白虎, Báihǔ” (White tiger). “Qīnglóng” and “Báihǔ” are ancient Chinese mythical creatures, associated with traditional astrology, seasons, fortune or misfortune bearing Yin-Yang five elements. Legend had it that 2 creatures incarnated into rivalry military generals […]
KOREAN SMALL STATIONERY CHESTS. Mungap. Zelkova & […]
Giacometti’s work Giacometti’s work is marked by the influence of African and Oceanic sculpture. By the time Giacometti took an interest in it in 1926, African art was no longer a novelty for the modern artists of the previous generation (Picasso, Derain); it had even become popular to the point of being decorative. The two […]
Some Useful Tips when Selecting and Authentifying Original Korean Chests Thanks to John Holstein, a long-time resident in Korea, and passionate of Korean antique furniture. Authenticity Use logic, and do detective work. These are a few tips, but discovery is mostly logic and common sense. TWO LEVEL CHEST. ICHUNG JANG. Pine & persimmon wood. Mid […]
The history of the castle of Villandry begins in the Middle Ages. On these lands, a fortified castle was built, the keep of which remains today. In 1536, Jean Breton, minister of finance of François I, built a castle in the architectural style characteristic of the second Renaissance. Between the 16th century and the […]