kesi dragon

I have been thinking about my favorite blog, Bluepeony  aka Blue Peony; on Blogspot  the problem is that it seems to have ended three years ago.  The blogger Tanuki, very creative, from Singapore, and like me really appreciated lovely antique Chinese robes.    I miss this blog,  and still look at it hoping that maybe someday he may post again, the last posting was June 3, 2007.  Maybe he blogs somewhere else.  I only want to think the best. I almost purchased the 100 butterfly robe.  So beautiful, I wish I had, but then one (not as nice) materialized for me on Sunday May 1 like magic, the robe is very beautiful too.  This blog is wonderful, and so beautiful, a few of the most beautiful antqiue Chinese Robes and textiles in the world are posted, then it go’s on to the trials and tribulations of his business which was based on these designs, so difficult to run a business, he was selling the most beautiful robes to raise capital to get it up and running.   I really like this blog Blue Peony and want to share it, so enjoy!~

Annapolis May Day Basket

Annapolis Maryland

The weather is going to be beautiful, and today is Mayday in Annapolis it is so beautiful to see the May baskets, both residents and business in the old 18th century  town of Annpolis hang May baskets on May 1, and so many May Baskets there are.  They are so much a part of an older tradition that my Web artist Anne and I

My May Basket 2011

were talking about today.  How we both as children would make baskets of flowers and either hang them on a door (New England) or leave them on the porch (Midwest).  This has been done since the 18th century here in the states, and the ribbons go back to an older tradition dancing and winding ribbons around a May pole;  but I don’t think that it is done that much anymore.  The tradition gets lost in time.  

Antique Chinese 100 Butterfly Robe Jacket

 On a trip to the markets today I found this vintage Japanese crane porcelain basket.  Perfect basket for my May Day 2011. 

 I also found a rare and beautiful 100 butterfly robe to complement it.

Xiangtangshan Boddesatva

I will take the trip to Annapolis after a tour of the Smithsonian Sackler Exhibit, at 1:00 pm;  of the Buddhist caves of Xiangtangshan with Smithsonian Museum docent Gail.

Canaletto Painting

Yesterday, I invited my Web designer Anne join me to see two exhibits at the National Gallery of Art.  Canaeletto and His Rivals which was ending.  We enjoyed this exhibit for the picture perfect views of Venice.  Anne liked the beautiful 18th century gondola on exhibit.    I kept thinking of my reading of the 12 volume set of the Memoirs of Cassanova when I was in college.  And wondered if he was depicted in any of these paintings since he lived during that time frame.

And then we went to the Gaugan Exhibit.. Gauguin Maker of Myth which was also in the new wing of the National Gallery of Art.  Well worth seeing it is a powerful exhibition which is here in Washington at the National Gallery until June 5, 2011.  And the best part is that this and other exhibitions at the Smithsonian are absolutely free.

From Gaughin Maker of Myth

Two years ago in 2009 I had traveled to Boston to see another Exhibit of Gauguin entitled  Where Do We Come from? What Are We? Where Are We Going?,  I was so surprised and delighted to see another Gauguin exhibit so soon afterwards, and even closer to home;  at my doorstep, and such a powerful exhibit it is.

My friend Anne thought that this was an interesting story and should be posted.

The question is Ming or earlier?  To me it looks earlier maybe the era of Marco Polo.  It looks early export to me,  rather than the Chinese market.  The shield design, the two non symetrical dragons in a raised stance.  And it is sooo large 18″ I wouldn’t say it is beautiful, I would say it is fierce; finely executed and heavy maybe 25 pounds.  But this is not the story.  The story go’s as follows…

That was Wednesday, April 13th, and the place was the Peking Gourmet Falls Church, VA, the favorite Chinese Restaurant of George HW Bush and many politicos. George HW or president number 41, before becoming president was the U.S. Liaison Office representative in Peking (now Beijing) which equivocates the US Ambassador to China. A week before I was having lunch with my friend Leigh, at a ‘baby shower luncheon of the two of us’ and she said that business is quite often conducted over lunch and dinner in China. Fashionably late by 15 minutes the guests were anxious that I might not arrive. They had already ordered two pairs of ducks. My assistant Kai met me at the door, I was afraid that she would not be there because this was a hastily called dinner, which consisted of twelve people mostly the staff of P&C Art all who have helped me with my small business Fantasia Antiques. We trade together, buy, and sell, they archivacally restore my fine artwork, expertly frame paintings, help me set up at shows and hang artwork. This dinner was in honor of them. We had met the owner of Peking Gourmet a week prior at a Vietnamese restaurant, and that is where I had the idea to celebrate with my friends. We ordered many delicacies, lamb, shrimp, chicken and veggies and had superior treatment at the restaurant, and the owner made a special caramel banana desert for us. We would have gotten the ‘Presidential Table’ but it was booked. I was happy for a large round table in the corner. Well this turned out to be a fine business dinner.

My Friend Dan emailed me these.  I thought they were well worth sharing.

Giant Stinson Beach Bubbles…

and then this one… The baby hummingbird

coco zhao

burnett thompson

My favorite pianist and my favorite singer will be performing in concert on Friday April 29th, at twocities in Shanghai.  I wish I could be in Shanghai then, and thank you for inviting me!…Susan, thanks for the note.  So, just jump on a plane and wake up in Shanghai.  Hotels are cheap ($35/night) and the food practically free.  B

April 2011
29 Friday – Concert, 7:30 pm. Shakespeare’s Sonnets with Burnett Thompson and Coco Zhao
The Bard’s verses are set to music and translated into Chinese, performed by American pianist Burnett Thompson and Chinese vocalist Coco Zhao.

Love Burnett Thompson read more and hear some of his fantastic piano performance here.

And Coco Zhao I loved hearing him at the Kennedy Center with Burnett, and Coco’s band The Possicobilities.  Follow the link to hear this great performance.

The best to you both.  I plan on posting more a flyer about this great event.

Its my web artist Anne’s birthday and we are going to celebrate it at the Old Angler’s Inn, and then a hike at Billy Goat Trail.  Anne has done an outstanding job on the artwork for my WordPress blog, and has been my web designer for many many years.  Thank you Anne!  Happy Birthday to you!

This weekend began on Friday with a free ticket to the National Symphony,  Thank you Marril (my professional cellist friend) and Desi (violinist of the National Symphony).  Since Desi was performing with the Syphony,  not only did I see a spectacular performance of Rosini, Paganini, (with classically trained gypsy violinist Jozsef Lendvay Jr. who received a standing ovation) and Shuman but I also had the opportunity to see backstage at the Kennedy Center .  Here is a performance by Jozsef Lendvay, Jr. playing Paganini on YouTube for your listening pleasure. 

silk road Chinese vase

Then on to my friends at P&C Art  As I was going in, Cecelia was leaving …darn I missed seeing her by seconds.  I had to pick up a painting which was being Repatriated to Holland.  My friends at P&C do my fine arts shipping of antiques and they did an outstanding job of preparing this painting for shipping.

Then a quick bowl of soup at Pho 75 and then straight home.  Quite the weekend, but it is not over yet!