Kagami Reflections – Japanese Antique Hand Mirrors

27 February 2015

What’s it like looking into a mirror for the first time? Dogs bark at their own reflection and run full speed ahead to play with the ‘newcomer,’ only to crash headlong into themselves. Cats stop, stare, and even  pounce on the doppelganger. Babies smile, laugh and dance with the other little person in the mirror, even if they can’t stand up. Even as adults, whe...

The Great Leap – Chinese Cultural Revolution Memorabilia

20 February 2015

Propaganda posters featuring Mao appeared as early as the 1950s but it was during the Chinese Cultural Revolution that they reached their peak. The ‘Little Red Book’ was so named because it was small enough to be carried around in everyone’s pockets – and carry it they did. If a Red Guard demanded to see your book and you failed to produce it from your pocket the pu...

Oh, My Aching Head! – History of Headrests

13 February 2015

Back before modern stuffed pillows emerged, when the concept of headrests first began in ancient civilizations, wooden or stone pillows were quite common all across the world. It should be noted, the main function of these pillows was not for comfort as we know it today, but instead, as a means to raise the head so insects could not crawl into your mouth, nose, ear, or hair. It seems huma...

A Chair to Hang Your Hat On – Chinese Yoke Back Chairs

03 February 2015

At one point during high school my room was home to nine chairs: a desk chair, a couch, an armchair, an ottoman, two bar stools, one dining chair, one swivel chair, and a bean bag cushion. As you can imagine, there was more sitting room than walking space, and my room wasn’t too big anyway. In looking back, the question arises: why did I have so many chairs? There is no convincing a...