Chinas art objects and traditional manufactured products have long been sought by collectorsmdash;from porcelains and silk fabrics to furniture and even the lacquered chopsticks that are a distant relation to ones found in most Chinese restaurants. Things Chinese presents sixty distinctive items that are typical of Chinese culture and together open a special window onto the people; history; and society of the worlds largest nation. Many of the objects are collectibles; and each has a story to tell. The objects relate to six major areas of cultural life: the home; the personal; arts crafts; eating drinking; entertainment; and religious practice. They include items both familiar and unfamiliarmdash;from snuff bottles and calligraphy scrolls to moon cake molds and Mao memorabilia. Ronald Knapps evocative text describes the history; cultural significance; and customs relating to each object; while Michael Freemans superb photographs illustrate them. Together; text and photographs offer a unique look at the material culture of China and the aesthetics that inform it.
#3931307 in eBooks 2010-04-09 2010-04-09File Name: B008OU22VI
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