Oriental Fans

Posted on September 9, 2010 by admin

The Beauty of Oriental Fans

If you are like me, you’ve always been intrigued by the beauty and elegance of Oriental fans. Of course, they are not only potential works of art, but they also serve a useful purpose. As you obviously know, Oriental fans have always been used for the primary purpose of cooling the owner. This article was written to examine Oriental fans originating from both China and Japan. After reading this article, you should be better informed on the subject of Oriental fans.

Oriental Fans From China:

Oriental fans have been a mainstay in China for over 2000 years. The earliest known fan was made from bamboo, and was created 200 years before Christ. Over the centuries, Oriental fans became part of the Chinese social structure. Depending on the status and gender of the individual, the fans would have been been made from different materials and display different characters. Of course the fanciest of Oriental fans were primarily for the wealthy individuals in China. It is interesting to note that the Chinese character for fan is actually a depiction of feathers under a roof, which somewhat resembles a fan, making it easier for the reader to understand its meaning.

Oriental Fans From The Rest Of Asia:

The Japanese version of Oriental fans became prevalent some time in the sixth century A.D. It is alleged that Japan was the first culture to introduce what we would call a folding fan. However, there are those in China and Korea that might take exception to that. Whatever the case, it is an established fact that Oriental fans were commonplace throughout all of Asia by the 10th century. There are documents that indicate how valuable Asian fans were considered. They were often used as gifts to the ruling class of the day. For example, it’s documented that a Japanese monk named Chonen offered several folding fans to the Emperor of China in 988. It would seem to the present-day reader that the gift of a fan would not be very impressive. However, back in the day, it was considered an impressive gift.

There are many beliefs and superstitions surrounding Oriental fans that have been handed down through the generations. There are some that believe the handle symbolizes the birthing process and the ribs symbolize the pathways traveled in life. Others used the fans for more commonplace activities. Actors and dancers quite often used them in their performances, and children often used Asian fans as toys.

Conclusion:

No matter what your nationality or background, all of us can enjoy the beauty and elegance of Oriental fans. They not only add a touch of elegance to their surroundings, but as we’ve mentioned above, they can also serve a utilitarian purpose. Oriental fans can make all surroundings a more comfortable place.

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Asian Lamps

Posted on September 28, 2010 by admin

Asian Lamps Add A Touch Of Elegance To Your Home!

Are you interested in the subject of Asian lamps? If so, then this article was written for you. We are going to explore the beauty and elegance that is provided by the addition of Asian labs into a home. Specifically we will discuss the most popular types of Asian lamps: silk hanging lamps, bamboo hanging lamps, and floor lamps. After reading this article, you’ll be in a better position to make a decent purchasing decision concerning Asian lamps.

Silk Hanging Asian Lamps

These beautiful examples of Asian art will truly enhance any home’s decor. In fact, in each lamp seems to have some sort of energy, such as feng shui, that will provide a balance to your home decor. These types of lights can be singular in nature, or perhaps a string of lights that adds a festive, as well as a relaxing ambiance to your room. Although these lamps are thought of as being primarily Chinese, they can also be found in other cultures such as Korea, Japan, and the like. Specifically, they can be found in religious settings such as Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples.

Bamboo Hanging Lamps

Bamboo Hanging Lamps are patterned off the traditional rice paper lamps that were commonplace in Asia several hundred years ago. Whereas paper lamps tended to be painted in just one color, bamboo lamps tend to offer several hues, all of which are bright in nature. These types of lamps can also be found in the religious settings as mentioned above, with Buddhist temples being the most common.

Floor Garden Asian Lamps

The idea behind floor garden Asian lamps is to reproduce a garden-like feeling to the interior of your home. These lamps will have flowers or vines that seem to grow up the base of the lamp and end near the lamp shade which is created with a rainbow like color scheme. There are others that actually resembled Tiffany lamps in their beauty and elegance, but offer an oriental appearance.

There is more on this topic located here: Oriental decor

Conclusion

While it is certainly an enjoyable experience to remodel a home, there also needs to be a large dose of reality employed as well. It is our experience that a homeowner can easily get carried away by the beauty and elegance of home redecorating items, and end up spending much more than they can afford. We recommend a little upfront planning as to what types of decor items are wanted, and how much money is budgeted. After doing so, the savvy homeowner will find they have more money in their pocket, along with their new Asian lamps.

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Decorative Screens

Posted on September 27, 2010 by admin

The Three Basic Types Of Decorative Screens

Are you interested in the subject of decorative screens? If so, then this article was written for you. We will be discussing the three regional types of decorative screens. Specifically, screens from Western societies, from Japan, and also Korea. After reading this article you should be in a better position to make a decent purchasing decision regarding decorative screens.

Decorative Screens in Western Society

Although screens are typically thought of as being an Asian item, it’s a fact that decorative screens were also used in European society. Truth be told, the origins of Western society screens actually came from the Orient. Specifically, when Europe and Asia began to trade among themselves was when these screens made an appearance in the West. However, the appearance of Western-style screens differed remarkably as the years went on. For example, Europeans would use different materials such as leather rather than silk to create their screens. The decorations, of course, were also quite different in that they reflected the totally different society than what existed in the Orient.

Decorative Screens From Japan

The privacy screens that originated in Japan were referred to as Shoji screens. They have been in use for literally thousands of years and can be found in a myriad of design styles, colors, and shapes. However, the majority of Shoji decorative screens are offered in a two panel variety for smaller rooms, but also are available in larger sizes such as four or six panel versions. They typically are offered with various oriental style characters etched in them (such as dragons, exotic birds, as well as Japanese alphabetical characters) that add a touch of elegance to any home decor.

Decorative Screens From Korea

The most common decorative screening originating from Korea is called Moonjado. Moonjado actually is a type of character that displays elements of nature such as birds and flowers and the like. Some of these screens are so intricate that the design features cannot all be seen by the naked eye. Indeed, in some cases a magnifying glass is needed in order to view all of the calligraphy placed on these screens. The end result is a screen that actually resembles a manuscript such as you might see from medieval Europe.  there is more information on this subject located here:  Oriental Decor

Conclusion

While it is certainly an enjoyable experience to remodel a home, there also needs to be a large dose of reality employed as well. It is our experience that a homeowner can easily get carried away by the beauty and elegance of home redecorating items, and end up spending much more than they can afford. We recommend a little upfront planning as to what types of decor items are wanted, and how much money is budgeted. After doing so, the savvy homeowner will find they have more money in their pocket, along with their new decorative screens.

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Oriental Home Decor

Posted on September 27, 2010 by admin

The Grace and Style Of Oriental Home Decor

Are you interested in the subject of Oriental home decor? If so, then this article was written for you. We will be focusing on how to decorate the various rooms in your house with an Asian theme. Specifically, we will discuss dining rooms, bedrooms, and baths. After reading this article, you should be able to make a better informed purchasing decision when choosing Oriental home decor items.

Oriental Home Decor Items For The Dining Room

Dining rooms are the area of the house where visitors probably have the best opportunity to experience your Oriental home decor. After all, much time is spent in this particular room with ample opportunity to take in its surroundings. There are many implements that can be chosen for dining room enhancement, depending upon the taste of the homeowner. We recommend including chopsticks, Asian decorated plates and place mats, as well as tea serving sets to your decorating strategy. These additions, while being fairly simple and straightforward, can really add a nice touch of Asian elegance to your oriental home decor. In addition, the overall room color scheme can also provide a significant impact. These coloring decisions could depend on regional influences. For example, Japanese culture tends to focus on white, black, and red, whereas other Asian cultures seem to prefer more neutral colors such as amber, copper, and other hues taken directly from nature.

Oriental Home Decor Items For The Bath

When you stop to think about it, the bathroom is also an ideal location to add Oriental home decor items. After all, your visitors will also spend time here, and they have plenty of time to examine the beauty of the room. Don’t you think that adding the relaxing and tranquil design features inherent in Oriental home decor is a good idea for the bathroom? We certainly do! For example, an artistic homeowner might want to add Asian figurines, candles, oriental fans, and artwork such as calligraphy in various locations. Another idea might be to add a fountain, which seems to add additional feelings of relaxation to the room.

Oriental Home Decor Items For The Bedroom

It’s safe to say that the bedroom will have a different ambience about it than the prior two rooms that we discussed above. Whereas elegance and relaxation were important for the dining room and the bathroom respectively, the bedroom would be better served to have a more romantic atmosphere. We recommend using various fabrics to create this type of atmosphere such as rice paper window accouterments. Asian screens are another nice touch and can be used throughout the room to section off piles of dirty clothes or other things that would alter the mood of the room. Additionally, an adventuresome homeowner might want to consider upgrading their flooring. Specifically wood flooring can add a nice touch of Asian romance, especially when the material is bamboo. Another idea would be to add Oriental tiles such as are found in present-day China, Japan, and Korea.

Conclusion

Decorating a home can be an enjoyable, if not stressful, adventure. However, there are a myriad of decisions that must be made, and a lot of money could be spent on the project. It is advisable for the savvy homeowner to determine upfront what types of Asian styles are desired, and how much money is available to spend. When planned properly, anybody’s home can be immeasurably enhanced with the addition of Oriental home decor items.

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Antique Fans

Posted on September 27, 2010 by admin

The Elegance Of Antique Fans

If you want to learn more about antique fans, then you’ve come to the right place. This article was written to shed new light on the topic of antique fans, and how they impacted Asian society. Specifically we’ll discuss the three major categories including rigid, folding paper, and non-paper folding fans. After reading this article, the reader should be better equipped to make a well informed purchasing decision concerning antique fans.

Rigid Antique Fans:

As you’re probably aware, the Chinese culture has utilized antique fans for thousands of years. They had been used traditionally to cool the air, of course, but they also were a status symbol. An individual living in that era could immediately determine the social status of anyone holding a fan just by examining its quality of construction. The category of rigid antique vans reached their peak in popularity in the 7th to 10th centuries A.D. These fans were primarily manufactured from bamboo or ivory and had silk as a main fabric that would be stretched across the frame. There are some surviving examples from as early as the 1800s that were built in this manner.

Folding Paper Antique Fans:

Paper fans were constructed with thin sticks of bamboo, cedar, or perhaps sandalwood, the latter two being used when the owner wanted to emit a particular fragrance. It was not unusual for fans to be constructed with 20 or more internal sticks, sometimes as many as 30! There are examples of folding paper antique fans that are over 100 years old, with one particular example having a turtle image on the front along with a tiny engraved inscription that said “from your humble concubine with best wishes”.  There is more information on this topic here:  Oriental Fans

Folding, Non-Paper Antique Fans:

These types of fans were made famous in China, but they actually originated from Japan and before that, Korea. They reached their zenith of popularity in the 15th century, and became quite a status symbol in Chinese culture. It was easy to spot a man of means just by where he carried his fan. Typically it was located in a carrying case attached to his girdle or perhaps tucked into the top of his boot. The Chinese artistic community was also famous for their folding non-paper antique fans. As you might expect, these types of fans (at least most of them) were fabulous pieces of artistic genius.

Conclusion:

Anyone interested in the study of stored Chinese culture should also be interested in antique fans. A lot can be learned from a culture just by studying its accoutrements and decorative belongings. This is absolutely true when analyzing antique fans, as they relate to Oriental culture.

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Oriental Bedroom Furniture

Posted on September 23, 2010 by admin

Oriental Bedroom Furniture

Are you interested in the subject of oriental bedroom furniture? If so, then this article was written for you, as we’ll be discussing the beauty and elegance that comes with an oriental bedroom. Specifically, will focus on three key areas: quality construction, a positive ambiance, and the book of bamboo. After reading this article, you should be in a better position to understand the benefits of oriental bedroom furniture.

The Quality Construction Of Oriental Bedroom Furniture

It becomes obvious to all concerned that oriental bedroom furniture is constructed with high quality materials and craftsmanship. One only has to see the vast number of furniture pieces still in existence that were constructed hundreds of years ago. The designs of these types of oriental bedroom furniture pieces are, of course, quite decorative, but they’re also designed with perfect balance and equally distributed weight. In particular, bedroom sets have shown to be incredibly durable. They tend to be passed down through the ages with little or no visible wear and tear.

The Positive Ambiance of Oriental Bedroom Furniture

In our opinion, there is no other genre of furniture that can compare to that which is crafted in Asia. There is something about the design and features, as well as the inmate and beautiful carvings that inspire happiness to all who view them. It is almost a mystical thing, with perhaps some feng shui influences involved. It is certainly true that 100 years ago, this type of furniture were created by crafted artisans that learned their vocation from their ancestors. The ability to craft beautiful oriental bedroom furniture was a talent handed down from one generation to the next. Unfortunately, our mechanized world has all but eliminated these types of talented furniture makers. However, it is still available in limited places in Asia ,if one knows where to look.  Additional information is located here:  Oriental Decor

Using Bamboo For Oriental Bedroom Furniture

There is no other material that represents Asian influence more than bamboo. It has an elegance all its own, and can positively influence a home’s decor in virtually any room in the house. We specifically recommend using bamboo furniture in the bedroom, with headboards and dressers as the obvious choices. A bamboo room divider is also a nice touch if the homeowner wants to separate out private living space within their bedroom. And for those who are green-oriented, they can choose bamboo that is offered as a chemical free material. Any or all of these items will create a favorable ambiance.

Conclusion

While it is certainly an enjoyable experience to remodel a home, there also needs to be a large dose of reality employed as well. It is our experience that a homeowner can easily get carried away by the beauty and elegance of home redecorating items, and end up spending much more than they can afford. We recommend a little upfront planning as to what types of decor items are wanted, and how much money is budgeted. After doing so, the savvy homeowner will find they have more money in their pocket, along with their new oriental bedroom furniture.

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Asian Wall Art

Posted on September 9, 2010 by admin

The Three Basic Types Of Asian Wall Art

If you want to learn more about Asian wall art, then you’ve come to the right place. This article was written as a reference for those interested in improving their home decor using Asian items. Specifically we will focus on using silk, flowers, and bamboo as decorations. After reading this article, you’ll be better prepared to make a good purchasing decision regarding Asian wall art.

Asian Wall Art – Silk

As everybody knows, silk is traditionally considered the most elegant as well as the most beautiful fabric in the world. It can be provided in a overwhelming display of colors that deliver an improved ambiance to any home’s decor. Often times an example of silk Asian wall art has delicate flowers painted (or perhaps stitched) directly into the silk. Other examples would imitate the look of ancient scrolls displaying Chinese, Japanese, or Korean characters. These symbols would typically represent blessings for wisdom, health, and general good fortune. Yet other examples would have depictions of ancient temples and pagoda, sometimes accompanied by mythical beasts such as dragons or a phoenix.

Asian Wall Art – Flowers

In almost every example of Asian wall art, flowers can be found depicted somewhere on its surface. Each flower is representing the mood, feeling, or some other sort of creativity example of Chinese and Japanese culture. In particular, blue sakura flowers are often found among a water element which would represent spiritual growth, as well as wisdom and healing. Another example is the peony flower which is considered among the most enduring of Asian blossoms.

Asian Wall Art – Bamboo

More than any other material, bamboo has become synonymous with Asian decor. It has come to be called the ‘flower of riches and honor’, even though bamboo is not really a flower. It is however, the Chinese symbol for the longevity of life due to its strength and resilience as a material. Furthermore, the Chinese attribute bamboo to gentleness, strength, and modesty. It is actually considered to be a sacred plant.

There is more on this topic located here: Oriental Decor

Conclusion

While it is certainly an enjoyable experience to remodel a home, there also needs to be a large dose of reality employed as well. It is our experience that a homeowner can easily get carried away by the beauty and elegance of home redecorating items, and end up spending much more than they can afford. We recommend a little upfront planning as to what types of decor items are wanted, and how much money is budgeted. After doing so, the savvy homeowner will find they have more money in their pocket, along with their new Asian wall art.

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