The Appeal of Asian Art and Artifacts: Paintings, Statues, Sword and More. PART ONE.

July 30, 2018

#264

Gentle reader,

If you are wondering why I start these blog articles with "Gentle reader" it is because, I feel the term: "Ladies and Gentlemen" has become archaic. But, I wish to greet my readers kindly. For you are kind to me by entering my little world to read what I have written and view my photographs. For which I sincerely thank you.

I consider myself a gentleman. I open doors for women and the elderly, I smile at strangers, most of whom return the smiles. And I will generally speak with anyone nearby. I have spent some complete airline flights in conversation with once strangers, now acquaintances, either seatmates or someone directly across the aisle from me. Also often while merely standing in line somewhere, do I strike up a conversation. 
I once dated (on a rebound for both of us, our "mates" left us for the other's mate) a woman named Jerry. She was my only "older" woman. She was 25 to my 20. I marveled at her ability to strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere. As I have matured (I'm now in my 60's) I have adopted her friendly style. It has resulted in new friendships that would never have occurred had I not become so outgoing. It's nice to be greeted by name at so many places I frequent. A person's age does not matter, I speak with little ones all the way to those well beyond my years. We are all just people, after all.

The modern world has become too silent. Look around you, while at a stoplight or anywhere in public, and you will likely observe the majority of people either with earbuds in, and more often now, headphones on, listening to music and/or looking down at their "smart" phones absorbed in what someone else has posted on the Internet, or their "friends" exploits on social media.  

Face to face contact has faded from the norm to when it is absolutely necessary. Many people rarely actually TALK on their phones these days. And this is a shame. We know to not try and telephone our kids. They let it ring. Most of the younger generation will only respond to a text. 
We still have a landline telephone. As do two of our daughters, those who gave us our six grandchildren. The other four kids rely solely on their cell phones. The norm today is to never have such a "last-millennium" device as a telephone that needs wires and must be attached to the wall or sit on a table. Why would anyone want to just stand or sit while talking on the phone?

That reminds me of a true story: Some years ago, unsure of what to get their mother, whom they no longer lived nearby, for her upcoming birthday, two sisters decided to buy her a cordless telephone.  They even set it up for her to use. After returning to their distant homes, they found that their mother now called them more often, sometimes a couple of times a day. When one finally asked if Mom wasn't worried about high long distance phone bills, she replied, "What phone bills, this phone doesn't have a cord!" 

For that to be funny, one has to realize that for from the time Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, it cost money not only to HAVE a home or business phone service, but EXTRA to call long distance. There were cheaper times to do so, such as after 8:00 PM. Plus, it wasn't until the late 20th Century that one could BUY their home phone. No, you rented it. The universality of cellular telephones has eliminated the extra cost of calling someone outside your immediate area costing an arm and a leg. Of course, the telephone companies now make WAY more money with the billions cell phones than they ever dreamed of in the olden days!

I did not intend to write an essay. Sometimes some thoughts just need to be put into writing. 
This is to be about our Asian Art. I wrote about this previously, but have added many more things now and hope that you enjoy seeing them. This links the previous article from some years ago:  
Asian paintings, statues, swords and more....

The first few pictures show the room and it's art pieces with starting by looking from the center to the left-front corner. 
I DO NOT HUNT. That is a skin from a Fishing Cat, native to Asia, the widow of a dear friend wanted me to "throw away that old leopard skin". I rescued it and my wife sewed a backing to it, slightly stuffing it. I also did not shoot the Jackalope. First of all they are mythical and secondly that western rifle is missing vital parts. We discovered this AFTER buying it when we took it to the range. Grrr!

Thousands of my readers have seen some of these things in the multitude of articles I have written about my audio/stereo exploits. Some, perhaps you, have wondered about them?

This room, opposite the room I call my "office", which is where I write this. That room was originally the master bedroom of this house. We never used it as such and it was one of the girl's bedrooms. Once she moved out and stopped moving back in, we made it a "den" with the TV and modest surround sound system. And largely empty walls. After a while we decided to move the TV, etcetera, back to the living room and the den became my music "listening room". 

Above is the front wall. The stereo sits below the art.

 Above is the right-front corner.

 Which makes above the right-rear corner.

Above is to the left of my chair. Each piece of art will be shown and explained individually.

My one-and-only-aunt, Ardith, whom I love dearly and she I, is a remarkable woman. A retired nurse, turned Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, she traveled the world at first with her second husband who was with the USO and later with the RED CROSS responding to disasters all over the world. She has seen things that most of us hope to never see. 

As a boy, I was fascinated with a beautiful, tall Geisha doll she kept in a glass case. I cannot tell you why, because I do not know why. To my shock and pleasure a year or so ago, one day a huge box was sitting on my porch when I got home. Inside was the doll. It must have cost a LOT to ship it here, and I now can gaze at her beauty anytime I wish. She truly loves me.

Her left forearm had come unglued. So I reattached it, but perhaps should have rotated it to the right a little as the dogwood branch blocks her face. I came across the doll on the right at an Asian store in a mall. I was intrigued because it is a girl with a sword. I pointed that out to the (Asian) saleswoman and she was surprised it was female too. 
When It was just the two of them, I'd say the shorter one was her tom-boy daughter who likes to pretend she is a Samurai warrior. 
The smallest one, my wife bought for me. She, being the youngest, wants to be Geisha like their mother. And, yes, I do know what Geisha were known for. But she fell in love, retired and married to have children, you see?

She stands almost 17 inches tall. Just look at the detail!

 The artisan who created her went to great effort.

 Below, her face is most visible.

 Pigeon toed? Perhaps.

Youngest daughter is quite stunning as well.

 Eldest daughter goes for the butch military look.

So, yes, I am a sixty-something-man who likes dolls. To look at. In fact, my wife handed me another one she found yesterday while we were shopping, nearly as tall as my aunt's, but I have no room for her.  

I once grew BONSAI. But I wasn't very good at it.

These are all artificial trees. Some better than others. One can now buy foliage of all kinds that never fades, never needs water and never dies. Artisans who create these works of art are truly skilled. Bees and hummingbirds are no doubt fooled by silk flowers, I reckon.

This was my first. I can manipulate most of the branches and place them where I wish.

 Below, a brass representation of BONSAI.

While on the subject of BONSAI, the Chinese also practice this art of miniature tress, their word is PENJING.  And if you think BONSAI is what the Japanese yelled going into battle, that word was BANZAI!

One who likes Asian art, surely should like Dragons as well. They are a part of the culture in some Asian countries. 
The fellow above, is largest and while appearing to be bronze, is in fact some sort of resin. The artisan carefully applied some sort of coatings to make it appear as aged and partly tarnished bronze. He is the largest by far, measuring more than 14 inches tall.  For more information upon why Dragons hold a ball, you may look here:
What does the ball represent that a dragon holds from China  

I bought the black one below first. The seller told me about the resin which is mixed with ground stone to create the color and texture. These are each about six inches tall and perhaps eight inches long. Each bookends some of my CD box sets. Both are ocean dwellers based upon the waves that they are riding.

The one below is pewter, I believe. His ball was missing, so I added a ball of iron pyrite, called "fools gold". He is the newest, standing seven inches tall on a three inch high base.

Lastly, below is the Chinese version of a Viking ship. Or, so I think. It is blacker in person, the flash lightens the color. No sign of propulsion. Magic, perhaps. Two in the center are playing Chess, while others stand watching the game. A monk, perhaps sits cross-legged in the stern, while a woman and child are near the bow.

Next, let us look at the swords.

The large one is genuine. It was my wife's nephew who owned it. He was leaving on a mission in Somalia. Perhaps fearing this might be the mission he does not return from, he gave it to me along with the stand.
Two men's blood has it drawn. Two military buddies of his wanted to see it. Men, being large boys, started playing with it. The one wielding it accidentally embedded it in the other's leg! Then he tried to pull it out by grabbing the blade, nearly cutting his fingers off!

So, yes, it is very sharp and heavy. Two hands are needed to wield it. The upper and smaller one is one of many thousand sold as a "Samurai Sword". The blade is stainless steel. I sharpened it and although not likely to cause real harm, the grandsons are not allowed to touch either one.

The hilts tell the tale. It is my understanding that the device wrapped in woven rope on the smaller hilt has meaning as does the color beneath. The real sword's hilt is made to be held securely even if wet with enemies blood. One would not use so ornate a sword as the smaller one in battle.

Speaking of battle. We just watched a show about the First Chinese Emperor, the one who defeated all the kings and united the various kingdoms into one united China. He had created the Terracotta Army so that in the afterlife he would have all he needed. EACH soldier is unique  just as each real soldier was. It was an incredible feat never before seen in Asia. The theory is that Greek sculptors were hired to teach Chinese artists how to make lifelike statues. Well he had a whole lot more stuff recreated in terracotta too, and all were buried with him over an incredibly vast area in China.

I found these two separately. Cool, huh?

Most likely made by different sculptors in miniature. 

I will end this chapter with a crystal ball. Well, perhaps it is glass. It turns out to not be Asian at all. As I began PART TWO, the globe sat before me and a tiny sign caught my eye. "What does that say? CHICAGO." Oh, well, now I know. When wound, the subway train rotates around the city. It plays a tune I do not recognize. Possibly from the musical film, CHICAGO. Who knew those actors could sing? The snow is tiny glitter. A river divides the scene and has an open draw bridge. And now, I know where it represents and the subway is not a subway at all, but an Elevated Train.

Next chapter will cover the paintings and prints as well as other items in the collection.

Thanks once again for taking the time to visit.

Scott

July, 30, 2018
#264