With the head of a dragon

Learn something new every day; they tell you it will keep you young. I don't know about that, but at least it keeps me interested.

I've been learning how to swap backgrounds on my photos. I keep forgetting the commands, so I worked far too long on it last night to do a blog post afterwards. Here's what held me up:

An antique jade turtle with a dragon's head, a Chinese symbol of longevity. It's a tea or sake pot that holds about a shot glass of liquid; the smaller turtle is the lid. I photographed it on a white sheet, for easy selection, then pasted a design from a card over the sheet, taking on the contours of the fabric.

This is fun! Not exactly appopriate for insect and bird photos, unless I mention at the time that the background has been changed, but it may be helpful when the insect in question prefers the wood of my desk to the leaf I have so carefully provided.

Menagerie

The weather continues as before. Rain, mist, sunshine, rain again. Another day inside four walls.

If I can't go out and find things, I can at least prowl around my house and take photos of some of the animals that "live" here. I picked these three up at antique fairs; I don't think they're really over 100 years old, just sort of old. Maybe they'd qualify for the "Vintage" group.

A jade goat. There's just a hint of green in the right light. He's resting on a Central American men's cape.

Mythical animal, much battered, in jade. With the cape and a Chinese pot.

Mr. Froggie. I don't know who made him or where. No matter; I think he's cute.

If this weather continues, maybe I'll just go birding inside. We'll see.

Too Overwhelmed for Words (Almost)

Yesterday, we visited a friend we met at antique fairs, invited to see her father's collection of Chinese porcelain and paintings.

After "elevenses"; tea, sandwiches and a coconut cake, we went upstairs to the porcelain and jade room. More than 3 hours later, we tottered downstairs, exhausted.

We had looked until our eyes blurred, bent over delicate pieces and heard the stories depicted in elaborate scenes.

We examined the intricacies of carvings of warriors and dragons, saw gestalt figures in a large piece of jade, felt cold stone warm to our hands, imagined settings for this piece and that.

Listened as the art "spoke" to us.

Two of the pieces are displayed here; a large glass snuff bottle, painted on the inside (through a tiny opening barely wide enough for a skinny chopstick) with seashore and town centre scenes. Priced (see the website) at $980 Canadian.

I boggled at the idea of painting these: with what? An L-shaped, fine-tipped paintbrush? And a magnifying glass?

With immense talent and patience, that's certain.

And a plate decorated with three dragons contending for the "flaming pearl", which Goretti (the daughter and present owner) told us is symbolic of a great treasure, hidden away; the princess in her palace, for example. ($4,800.00)

Beautiful things, gorgeous jade, vases to die for, tiny bowls for the most exquisite tea, wine ewers, wood carvings, Kuan Yin statuettes in jade, porcelain, pottery, iron and stone. Boxes upon boxes containing indescribable wonder.

We barely skimmed the surface. And didn't get to the paintings at all.

Overwhelming, utterly discombobulating. The privilege to see and handle these treasures, a precious gift. Words fail me.

Thank you, Goretti, thank you!

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Her website, again: Imperial Gallery . Drop in and spend an hour!