Ming Dynasty Furniture
Posted by Michele | Filed under Artwalk, Furniture, Random
Today, I want to go back a few years in time to the furniture style from the Ming Dynasty. It is beautiful and timeless. The Ming Dynasty was the last Chinese dynasty to rule the empire. It spanned almost three centuries between the fall of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368) and the rise of the Manchu Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). The Mongol rule lost it’s effectiveness after the civil war whereby Zhu Yuanzhang became the eminent leader. After elimimating his rivals, Zhu established the Ming Dynasty which reunited China Proper.
The Ming period was the Chinese most productive years and most stable due to the population numbered some 100 million. It was an age of expansion and prosperity when decorative arts flourished. As for the artistic achievements of Chinese Furniture, it has had a great impact on many Eastern and Western countries and plays an important role in world furniture. This was the age of expansion and prosperity when decorative arts and it’s furniture is characterized by it’s soft curves. It combined round and square, wide and narrow, thick and thin patterns and lines for contrast and thus formed the unique structure of Ming Dynasty furniture. The furniture is light and simple and conveys a sense of stability.
Floor sitting was widely practiced, traditional Chinese furniture is generally arrange in symmetrical suites or sets. Chairs were common furniture items arranged in symmetrical suites or sets. Craftsmen took the furniture traditions from the Song Dynasty and formed the Ming Dynasty style of furniture.
Collecting antiques can add monetary and spiritual value to your home. If you are looking for the real thing, below you will find some distinctions to look for.
- Characteristics - Beautifully shaped, light but conveys a sense of stability. Decorations are mainly engraved, circular carving, ivory and diamond inlays in designs of landscapes, flowers and birds or small bronze or silver ornamentation
- Woods - Rare fine timbers such as red sandalwood, elm camphor, beech, fir, boxwood, cypress, burl, chicken wing, walnut, ebony, birch, huanghuali, nanmu, rosewood, teak, Chinese catalpa, pine, poplar, locust, willow, oak Tieli . The Luohan bed above with the three panel screens is made of this Tieli wood.
Additional wood details -Fine grains and very deep colors with natural beauty, looking durable, smooth, plain and clean or elegant and ornate, resistant to decay
- Finish - Lacquered (found common in palaces and homes of the wealthy), includes ti-hung or carved lacquer style t”ien-chi’l ( lacquer isused to fill in engraving. Luo-tien is inlaid with mother of pearl.
- Construction - No visible joints, mortise and tenon joints, tongue and groove. Joinery should be consistent and construction logical. If it is not there is a good possibility the object is a copy or that it has been altered.
How would you decorate with this style of furniture? You can go all the way with Asian influences everywhere in the home or you can easily add a single chair to add charm. When you have eclectic taste such as mine, there are no rules but there must be a sense of some rhyme and some reason. If you have a contemporary home, it is very possible to mix this sofa above in to the mix. Can you imagine it with a bright fabric on it such as orange or red? You could add a variety of accent pillows. Or, you could use a beautiful monotone beige and cream balance of fabrics. That would give it a dressy look, more elegant. A contemporary rug design that mimics the frame work of the sofa would be terrific. Support large piece of glass with solid blocks of wood to create a simple but modern coffee table.
Use your creativity to add the elements of any cultural influence in your home. Spatter about your travels of the world to remind you of all those wonderful times. You’ll add value to your home as well as have a spiritual environment.
For more information about the beauty of this era, you can travel to Shanghai to and see the museum or search on line such as Rain Dragon Antiquities.
- www.antique-furniture.com
- www.home.seechina.com
- http://hua.umf.maine.edu/China/SMfurniture/index.html
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Artwalk with Michele - Mind Creations
Posted by Michele | Filed under Artwalk
How’s your brain this week? How creatively has your mind been working, and on what?
I found this terrific piece of art in Design Public this week. The designer, Ross Menuez, started producing a line of silk-screened tees out of his basement and now he’s selling this cult brand worldwide. I’m not a major T-shirt buyer, but if I saw his line in a store, I most likely would pick one up. I am more intrigued by the art he creates. He produced this image first then took the time to reproduce it on individual balsa wood chips. I don’t have that type of patience for my art, but maybe it is something I should take a look at.
Anything that looks like a new idea is going to make it in the art world. It may be a knockoff of what Hockney and other photographers have done, but I still believe this is a unique, new look because it is a new concept of an old idea. Besides, art is very subjective; to each his own, they say. What have you come up with that might be a new incarnation of an old idea?
We tend to think of creative people as artists. I’m always amused by folks who think I’m so gifted because I am an “artist.” I suggest to them, “I can’t do what you do.” How we translate art to canvas, poetry to paper, food to frying pan begins in the mind, that creative vision inside. The great thing about that is the vision is stored in the brain just as a computer can store files. It’s just a matter of how often we reach back to the deep areas of that brain power to finalize the projects we have invented.
Today is my Artwalk, but I started thinking about all the things people create. It’s mind-boggling to just stroll through the Internet and see the infiltration of creative minds. In my industry of art and interior design there is no end in sight. But what about aerospace, autos, medical devices, hi-tech, food stylists, hair stylists, architects, teachers, physicists, pet groomers, dancers, singers, auto detailers, gardeners, tree trimmers, dentists, plastic surgeons, mold makers, woodworkers, carpenters…and on and on and on?These are all talents, and all art to me. Everyone has a special gift, and that is art in its own right.
It’s time for me to use my talents again and paint away this weekend. I’m going to take off from the home to to my home away from home and ride my creative juice to see where it will take me. Maybe I’ll have something new to show you.
So, let yourself go as well and see what wonderfully creative piece of art you’d like to share. Keep me posted!
Artwalk with Michele - Art on a Budget
Posted by Michele | Filed under Artwalk
I’ve been so focused on color lately, I almost forgot about doing the Artwalk. Well, art plays a huge—and I mean huge—part in interior color. In fact, I would have to say it is my favorite aspect of design. I only wish my clients would allow me to choose the art for them more often. Art is subjective, and some couldn’t care less. If they spend less money and get color on their walls, that is all they care about. Others, well, they appreciate the good stuff.
I am a snob about art, but I’m forgiving when my clients ask me to shop with the concept of Design on a Dime. This is fun for me, and because I’ve had about thirty or so years of an art background, it is easy for me to pick and choose art and accessories. So today I’m bringing you some sites for what I think would be great finds.
This first image shown I found on All Posters.com. I liked right away. I paint trees myself, so this piece talked to me. This is actually a canvas and the price is great at $399. Now, generally, posters would be the cheapest way to go. Not my favorite way, but I have found some things that work well for clients. I created a movie theater room with movie posters: Gone with the Wind, The Sting and Bogie. I chose images with colors to match the decor, of course. If you are purchasing original art, my rule is to buy what you like—not to match the sofa. 
Selecting art can be done with great taste if you take your time and select imagery that calls to you or really works with the interior decor. For instance, this poster is way cool. I love the graphic nature of this poster, and I’m influenced by music in a huge way, so again, this one is right on the money for me. It reminds me of an old bandmate, Joe Banuelos, who would probably paint something exactly like this.
Back to color here. The need for just placing color or a void on the wall is OK, but you most likely will end up with a piece that doesn’t say much to you and might end up in a garage sale in a few years. If you are placing posters in fun rooms like playrooms, dens and kids’ rooms, they will have a longer life span. For any client’s great room, I would always suggest an original piece.
At Inexpensive Art, I found an artist named Harry Shoulberg. His work is reminiscent of the Impressionist painters as well as Post-Impressionist Van Gogh. His abstracts, landscapes and figurative works are wonderful. Unfornturnately, I did not see much more on that site, but I’m sure you will enjoy his work. 
And lastly, I found something very impressive by Lari Pittman at PBS Home. This piece is acrylic and enamel on wood. The size is tremendous at 128 x 96 inches. It seems the LA County Museum thought enough the work to host an exhibition, which you can view at Regen Projects.
Wal-Mart Art will turn in to Savaltion Army Art within a short period. And a treasure you find, whether online, at an exhibit or on vacation, will have more value because you found it; you lived the vacation or the experience at the gallery or even talked with the artist. This is value regardless of the price. Be inspired to take the time rather than just grabbing something to fill the space. You will love the challenge as well.
So stay tuned for the next Artwalk. I think I’ll do a story on my ol’ bandmate friends. They are up to some good stuff lately.
