Cheers To New Beginnings!
Spring is finally here, and with it, the opportunity to make a fresh start and explore all of the beauty life has to offer. It's an especially joyful time for Silk Road Collection - now that our new store is open, we're happy to be able to once again work face-to-face with clients to find the perfect pieces for their homes.
This month, all across China people will be celebrating the festival of Qingming, also known as the Pure Brightness Festival. A national public holiday occurring around April 5th each year, Qingming is a time for enjoying the outdoors and tending to the graves of your loved ones, a more literal version of what we call Spring cleaning.
As you commemorate the season by undertaking your own home renovations and interior design refreshes, remember that sometimes the most effective changes can also be the most simple. Freshen up your spaces by approaching basic pieces of furniture from new angles - for example, turn a coffee table into a bench, use a folding screen as a headboard, or even turning a traditional armoire into media storage.
Another easy way to welcome Spring is to bring nature indoors, either with actual greenery, or through incorporating images of flowers and plants in your home. Scroll down to learn more about natural motifs in Asian home goods, or click here to see recent additions to our collection and pick your own perfect pieces for Spring!
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Current Obsession:
Antique Ottoman Textile
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Our current obsession is also one of our most unique, so it's no wonder that we're a little awestruck by this beautiful piece. Dating from the 18th or early 19th century, this gorgeous antique Ottoman Empire tapestry features a burgundy silk background, accented with a hand-embroidered scene of a garden in full bloom. Peacocks and pheasants perch upon the branches of the "Tree of Life", surrounded by an intricate woven border of flowers and leaves.
Most of the embroidered detail of this lovely piece is executed with gold couched thread detail, showing many sparkling threads in the details. In addition, the piece boasts expert padded detail work and many areas of basket weave stitches, all held in place by couched stitches. This is one of the finest pieces of its kind, a museum-quality work that hasn't seen an equal on the market for at least ten years.
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How Does Your Garden Grow?
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Did you know that flowers in Asian art are not just depictions of blooming plants? When it comes to carved and painted petals, there's a lot more than meets the eye. Flowers are potent symbols in Eastern culture, with the potential to bring much more than just beauty to your interior design. Here are some great things to remember when adding Chinese floral motifs to your home's "bouquet."
The Orchid
One of the "Four Noble Ones", four plants (orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum & plum) used to commonly depict the unfolding of the seasons in Chinese art. The orchid blossom represents Spring, fertility, abundance, and growth.
Bamboo
This easily-recognizable plant represents Summer, longevity, integrity, elegance, and perseverance.
The Chrysanthemum
This flower represents Autumn, joviality, and long life.
The Plum
Known as the "friend of Winter," this beloved blossom blooms brightly in the snow, and represents the value of endurance.
The Peony
Known as the king of flowers, this flower is a sign of good fortune and a symbol of love, affection, and feminine beauty.
The Peach
Representing growth, prosperity, long life and romance, this flower was said to give immortality, and was known to Taoists as the elixir of life.
The Lotus
A symbol of purity and perfection, this flower also represents fruitfulness.
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Antique Chinese Painted Cabinet, ca. 1930
with peonies and other flowers
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Antique 5-Drawer Mongolian Console Table, ca. 1930
with peonies
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Large Antique Chinese Altar Table, ca. Early 1800's
with peonies, plum, and pine
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Antique Chinese Folding Chairs, ca. 18th c.
with floral motif
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Antique Chinese Display Cabinet, ca. 1850 to 1900
with plum, bamboo, pine, and lotus
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Antique Mongolian Chest, ca. 1880
with peony and plum
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Click here for more antique Asian furniture in our online gallery.
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Designer Corner:
Chad Graci
of Graci Interiors
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| Interior by Chad Graci Asian Bedside Table |
"Every Room a Touch of Asian"
by Chad Graci of Graci Interiors
Several years ago, around the time that I decided to go out on my own as a decorator, I was having one of those discussions with my grandmother that everyone has around the holidays. You know the talks. The conversations revolve around work or family or whatever grandpa is complaining about in the other room. After numbing my ears to it all my Grandmother (Lena) unexpectedly declares "I took decorating classes when I was first married." Taken by surprise, as I did not know, I urged her to continue and to indulge me with a tidbit from her lessons. She went on to state that "Every room, no matter what, needs a touch of Asian." I thought, Well thank you , Lena. Even today, as I ponder this statement, I know that she is right.
| Interior by Chad Graci Chinese Garden Stool & Accents |
Now I've done my time with the best (and the rest) of the decorating world, but even so, Grandma Lena's decorating mantra continuously rings true. Nearly every project I've worked on from uptown to downtown and from the marshes to the mountains sings with something Asian. Asian furniture just works. It addresses our need for a hint of the exotic without being tropical or kitschy. It provides that level of sophistication that we as designers want for all of our projects - no matter the style.
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Photos From Our Grand Opening |
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Practicing Tai Chi
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Lion Dancers
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Donald & Robert with the Lion Dancers
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The Great Wall
of Sharing
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Over on the Silk Road Collection Pinterest Page, our Spring celebration is in full bloom! Our newest pin board explores the symbolism of floral motifs in Chinese home decor. Here are just a few of the pieces we're talking about - click through to see more on our Pinterest page!
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