Hedi Xandt
Hedi Xandt, The God Of The Grove, 2013. gold-plated brass, polymer, distressed black finish, marble.© 2014 Hedi Xandt
Hedi Xandt, The God Of The Grove (detail), 2013. gold-plated brass, polymer, distressed black finish, marble. © 2014 Hedi Xandt
Hedi Xandt, My Die-Cast Soul, 2013, gold-plated. © 2014 Hedi Xandt
Hedi Xandt, The Longer You Last, 2013 gold-plated cast of an 18th century skull with inserted nails, custom-made black-red perspex fixture. © 2014 Hedi Xandt
Hedi Xandt, The Longer You Last III, 2013 translucent red plastic cast of an 18th century skull with coated black nails, custom-made plastic fixture (in aluminum paint). © 2014 Hedi Xandt
Hedi Xandt, Blood Is The Vessel Of Love, 2014. © 2014 Hedi Xandt
Hedi Xandt, The Amperxandt, 2014. © 2014 Hedi Xandt
Hedi Xandt, God Of The Grove III, glazed porcelain, 2014. © 2014 Hedi Xandt
Hedi Xandt, A King's Bed, bronze and marble, 2014. © 2014 Hedi Xandt
Hedi Xandt, A King's Bed (detail), bronze and marble, 2014 © 2014 Hedi Xandt
Boucheron, Trésor de Perse
Boucheron. The Isfahan necklace and the splendid indigo mosaic tiles of the Great Mosque at Isfahan in central Iran.
Boucheron. Trésor de Perse necklace with white gold, diamonds, chalcedony, and sapphires.
Boucheron. Making the Trésor de Perse necklace.
Boucheron. Trésor de Perse Ispahan Bracelet.
Boucheron. Trésor de Perse Ispahan Earrings.
Boucheron. Trésor de Perse Ispahan Necklace.
Boucheron. Trésor de Perse Ispahan Earrings.
Boucheron. Trésor de Perse Ispahan Ring.
Boucheron. Trésor de Perse Ring.
Boucheron. Trésor de Perse Ispahan Earrings.
Boucheron. Trésor de Perse Ispahan Ring.
Le cocktail du jour: Lemon Basil Margarita
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz Blanco Tequila
1 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Fresh Lime Juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
3 Basil Leaves
For Garnish:
Sugar/salt combination for the rim
Lemon slice
Basil leaf
Preparation:
Rim the glass with a combination of sugar and salt or if using the Fresh Origins botanicals a combination of half sugar/salt mixture and half botanicals.
Tear the basil and combine it in a shaker with the rest of the ingredients. Add ice; shake well and then pour into an ice filled rocks glass over a strainer. Garnish with basil and a lemon wheel.
Courtesy of Creative Culinary
Two Lotus Sutra in the Peabody Essex Museum collections
Lotus Sutra, 1420, Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Woodblock print on paper. Museum Purchase © 2001-2014 The Peabody Essex Museum.
Lotus Sutra, 18th century, Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Ink on paper. Museum Purchase © 2001-2014 The Peabody Essex Museum.
The Lotus Sutra proclaims itself to be the Buddha’s ultimate teaching. First compiled at the end of the second century, the Lotus Sutra, has been printed and hand copied innumerable times. In these two examples, the brush’s movement and modulation is as apparent in the earlier Imperial printed copy (top) as it is in the manuscript, despite the fact that a brush was not employed in the creation of the woodblock printed version.
Temple Bell, 13th year of the reign of the Shunzhi emperor, 1657, Qing dynasty
Temple Bell, 13th year of the reign of the Shunzhi emperor, 1657, Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Bronze. Given in memory of Edward Cunningham by his descendants, 1968. E78689 © 2001-2014 The Peabody Essex Museum.
“Hundred Boys” Jar, 1522-1566, Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Jiajing period
“Hundred Boys” Jar, 1522-1566, Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Jiajing period. Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration. Gift of Mrs. Herbert Nadai and Thomas Beal Jr. in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Beal, 1982. E81696 © 2001-2014 The Peabody Essex Museum.
The theme of one hundred boys at play was a popular decorative motif on porcelain, textiles and paintings from the 12th to the 20th century. Conveying a wish for numerous male progeny, the roots of the hundred boys motif is traceable to China’s earliest literary compilation, the Book of Odes, and alludes to the story of King Wen who had ninety-nine male offspring (with 24 wives) and one adopted son. One of his sons, King Wu, founded the Zhou dynasty (1027-221 B.C.E.).
Two Shi Jianmin's Stainless steel works at the Peabody Essex Museum
Shi Jianmen. Chair, Stainless steel, 2005. © 2001-2014 The Peabody Essex Museum.
"This chair's graceful vertical line recalls a flowing line of calligraphy."
Table, Shi Jianmin (b. 1962), China, 2005, stainless steel © 2001-2014 The Peabody Essex Museum.
The Grand Water Terrace, Front Facade, Dashuifa Zhengmian, Yi Lantai
The Grand Water Terrace, Front Facade, Dashuifa Zhengmian, Yi Lantai (Chinese, fl. 1780s), copperplate print on paper © 2001-2014 The Peabody Essex Museum.
Five Chinese paintings at the Peabody Essex Museum
Yuan Jie (Dates unknown, 16th century), Landscape after Ni Zan (1301-1374), 1554, Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Ink on paper. Mark and Dolores Pratt Collection. © 2001-2014 The Peabody Essex Museum.
Lan Ying (1578- active beyond 1660), Landscape after Ni Zan (1301-1374), 1647, Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Ink on paper. Mark and Dolores Pratt Collection. © 2001-2014 The Peabody Essex Museum.
Both of these landscapes strongly allude to the style of the Yuan dynasty artist Ni Zan. Dry, sparsely applied ink, the ‘one-river, two banks’ composition, the solitary hut in the foreground, were all characteristics of the earlier master, that later artists sought to creatively reinterpret. Although the stylistic references are unmistakable, the individual methods of the respective artists are also apparent when you look at the details of each painting.
Wang Chen (1720-1797), Album of ten leaves depicting bamboo, Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Ink on paper, Mark and Dolores Pratt Collection © 2001-2014 The Peabody Essex Museum.
Painting ink renditions of bamboo was a subtle way in which an educated gentleman could demonstrate his calligraphic prowess, and thus his cultural refinement. By using the same media--brush, ink and paper--and the same technique as calligraphy, the painting is meant to be appreciated as much for its fluent brushwork than its resemblance to the plant.
Bamboo also embodies the virtues of the ideal Confucian gentleman. Evergreen, it symbolized perseverance under harsh conditions. Supple, it is able to bend in the wind without breaking. Hollow, it represented modesty.
Guan Dongqi, 19th century, Ink Prunus in the Style of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) Artists, Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Ink on paper, E303544 © 2001-2014 The Peabody Essex Museum.
By rejecting chromatic color and unnecessary detail, Guan Dongqi focuses the viewers’ attention on the brush’s assertive, vigorous movement and versatility. With quickly executed strokes, the angular branches contrast with delicately wavering stems.
Ink paintings of the prunus were subtle ways for scholar-artists to demonstrate calligraphic prowess, and thus erudition and cultural knowledge. The link with calligraphy is further enforced with the two inscriptions enmeshed in the composition. Ink prunus has been a genre in Chinese painting since a Buddhist monk traced the moonlit shadow of a tree on his window paper in the early 12th century.
Tang Hong (b. 1926) and Zhang Daqian (1899-1983), Landscape of Huangshan, China, 1960, ink & color on paper © 2001-2014 The Peabody Essex Museum.
The Peabody Essex Museum's Chinese dresses
Imperial Woman's Court Robe, China, first half of 1700s, silk, gold-wrapped thread © 2001-2014 The Peabody Essex Museum.
Second Degree Daoist Priest’s Robe, late 18th century, Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Silk, satin, gold wrapped thread, 49 ¼ x 71 ¾ inches. Museum purchase, 2003, E302178 © 2001-2014 The Peabody Essex Museum.
The back of this robe is embellished with a panoramic portrayal of the entire universe. On the right and left shoulder are the sun and the moon, the gold discs represent stars, and the hem is decorated with dragons and waves, representing the seas. Wearing this image of the cosmic order, the priest’s body becomes a mirror that reflects the universe and allows him to communicate with the celestial world.
Woman's Wedding Tunic and Vest, China, late 19th century, silk, gold metallic thread © 2001-2014 The Peabody Essex Museum.
