Fantasia Antiques aka Fanant is proud to be a member of the Gotheborg Asian Porcelain & Asian Antiques Forum which highlights Asian porcelain and antiques from Japan, China and other Asian countries, and  is hosted by Jan-Erik from Gotheborg Sweden.

Gotheborg Forum

We highly suggest a membership of this forum if you are interested in Japanese, Chinese or Asian porcelain or antiques. 

The forum is now involved in charity auctions to help the survivors of Tsunami in Japan. 

Fantasia Antiques has donated a lovely 7-1/2″   Fukagawa Koransha porcelain phoenix brushwasher bowl. circa 1895 to first quarter 20th century which has bids now.  

Phoenix Dragon Bowl or Brushwasher

If you become a member you can bid on to own this lovely piece.  All of the proceeds go to the Tsunami Victums in Japan.  This is an invitation to join and then bid.  Bidding for this item ends on Tuesday 5 April, 12:00 Noon London time ( 20:00 HK Time).

During Cherry Blossom Season we are thinking of things Japanese.  There are only 2 more days (exhibit closes after April 2nd)  that you can visit the Fashion Institute of Technology’s (FIT) museum  exhibition  Japan Fashion Now   Just hop a train or bus or plane from Washington to view this great exhibit.

Cherry blossoms DC

Its Cherry Blossom time here in Washington and to go along with viewing the beautiful cherry blossoms its always fun to enjoy the food and products of Japan.  Here are some of my favorites…

Yesterday I went to Mane Ki Neko in Falls Church VA for a great dinner.   There are not that many places to have a great Japanese meal here in the Washington DC area,  this is one.  Another is Sushi Express I have been going there for years for great Japanese food.  Both of these have real Japanese delacacies. 

Then do you want to buy a Kimono or other beautiful Japanese items?  Our favorite is Arise Bazzar a real mainstay for collectors of Japanese treasures, textiles and collectibles as well as Asian arts from all over Asia.  Incredible selection,  including many historic treasures from the 1930′s estate of Baron Kurusu; the Pre WWII emmisary to the United States from Japan.                                          

Paul the owner of Arise is the preminent author of  the number 1 book on  Japanese Kimono which is currently in the process of being revised as a second edition,  so look forward to the upcoming printing.

Arise is close to the Washington National Arboretum, which has a subperb Bonsai and Penjing collection see them here..  One of the best in the World!

And Walking down Connecticut Avenue?  Visit Ginza for things Japanese, both new and old.  A great place to shop!

In Washington?  Follow this link for the Cherry Blossom events!  I’m planning on going on the Lantern Walk on Friday night.

The cultural arm of the Japanese Embassy… the Japan Information and Cultural Center suggests these Cherry Blossom events on their April Calendar

Now we are all aware of the Crisis that Japan is now facing.  I have donated, and also  researched some organizations where you can also donate to help those who are in need because of the triple whammy disaster… Earthquake, Tsunami, Nuclear Power Plant failure..  Here are some suggested charities…   http://www.interaction.org/crisis-list/interaction-members-support-japan-earthquake-response

It was a great day today,  A lot hapening and I found some lovely treasures, including a rare and beautiful minuature hanging bronze vase from China in the 19th Century which made this  Sunday special.   Thats not all Anne my artist friend  and I went on the Guided Tour of the Freer Gallery of the Smithsonian,  a very special Japanese tour today for the Cherry Blossom festival.  BTW I also went on the tour yesterday because each Docent brings their own special view of the collections which they admire and have a great knowledge about.  Well on the way out of the museum I took a picture of this lovely Japanese weeping cherry tree.  I loved the beauty of this tree and you will too.   

Then Kai came over and helped me wrap packages, We were like Christmas elves, with all of the packages which were wrapped today, she thought it was like kindergarten with all of the cuting and pasting.

Well due to technical difficulties I have not bee blogging lately, and I have a lot of information to share about the grand tour of New York during Asia Week, but that will have to wait!

Tomorrow, I and hopefully my web artist Anne will kick off the Washington DC Cherry Bossom festival with a trip to the Smithsonian Freer/Sackler (yikes that yellow Buddha photo!) galleries of art.  I decided to take a long lunch hour and visit the Sackler Gallery and Freer museums and go on the docent tours which are held daily at 1:00 pm at the Freer.  That was a grand time.  The docents know so much more than I.  So on to he  1pm  tour of the Freer, and saw the newly installed archaic Chinese exhibit, and then to the the recently opend Chinese Cave exhbits of the incredible Buddhistic carvings of  xiangtangshan This was an exhibit to see.  The sculptures are monumental, and I do not know why this not so great photo is headlining the exhibition.  Beats me.

And tomorrow!  it will be the special ‘Arts of Japan’ tour  at 1:00 pm 3/26/2011 and 3/27/2011 Celebrating the Washington DC Cherry Blossom Festival.  I can’t wait.  If you have a chance you should be there too!

I’m going to have to learn to imbed photos in this blog because I would like to share some pics of the Beatiful Washington DC Cherry Blossoms both at the Tidal Basin and at the National Arboretum.  Well its 10:15 and I just came home from having my nails done a nice pink in celebratin of the Cherry Blossom Festival.  So it is on to sleep.

Kai and I are getting ready for our trip to New York,  but while we are waiting to get a cab we are in the process of packing six packages 5 of which are going to China.  We package perfectly. Our customers have no idea of how much work and effort it is to bring these lovely items to them, but it is a labor of love.  What fun even the hard work.

Right now 1:25 AM  Saturday, March 12th; one Fantasia Antques packages is either lost in the shuffle or stolen because it has been kept in customs for weeks in France.  The customer is mad,  I don’t blame him.  I would be too!  Such a hassel,  I have contacted the post office,   Mr. John Donnahue, the Postmaster general.  The customer,  E’Bay’s company Pay Pal, and have been running around like a hamster on a wheel.  I have finally filed an insurance claim.  I wish that the package would arrive, and not be in the land of lost packages.

The goal is becoming a world class antiques dealer in my spare time.  Its just getting there.

Susan Maloney

Fantasia Antiques

Kai and I are on our way to New York City unexpectedly.  I was given a free ticket to an antiques show in NYC.  So we will both be shopping for wonderful antique Asian Treasures for you.  We are both looking fortward to this unexpected trip. And we wish you could be there too!  I am looking forward to having dinner at the Noodle Village in Chinatown.  A great place to have dinner.  Bring cash, they don’t accept plastic.

The nice thing about taking the red eye bus is that we sleep on it,  The trip is a few hours, so a light blanket or snuggy, that fits into my purse, and a deflatable pillow are good to pack.    A few light snacks or fruit are nice and something to drink make for a perfect trip.  And then some antiques magazines to read on the trip make it even more special.  We will have fun,  the search is on!

I hope to post some of my finds on this page!  I hope that we will be successful, but finding fine Chinese antiques becomes more and more difficult in todays market.

DC Big Flea

Fantasia had a phenomenal first day at the Big Flea Antiques Show in Chantilly Virginia, And we have one more Phenomenal Day to go!!!

…We met so many new people, added names to our mailing list and presented and sold some of the world’s most beautiful antiques. Many stopped by for delectable candies, and clover shaped cookies in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. It was an outstanding first day.

Fantasia Antiques was both humbled, honored and delighted to be told by patrons who had just arrived from China via New York that we are Famous In China! OUTSTANDING! We were delighted because one of our main goals at Fantasia is to repatriate cultural treasures back to the country they were created in… China, and we have had huge success through Vehicles like the Big Flea and EBay.

But it doesn’t stop there! We presented some of the most beautiful antiques in the world, Sold incredible Japanese Dolls, Chinese Tables, Jade, Cloissonne, Furniture, Antique Chinese Stands. Wonderful Silk Embroideries, Wood Carvings, Ivory Fan, Porcelain, Bronze, Imperial Chinese Treasures, and all manner of collectibles from all over the world. All of our patrons and the dealers at the show, said we had an outstanding selection, and our booth shined with the addition of newly purchased table drapes, and wonderful drapery behind the paintings and outstanding antique Chinese Rugs on the Floors. Most of All… we have to give a very special thanks to…

P&C Art of Virginia for setting up the wonderful displays where our paintings were displayed, they also provided us with a valuable contact…

… Mr. C. WAN who helped us safely and securely move treasures from their resting place in Washington DC to The Big Flea in Chantilly Virginia.

Many of our patrons had come to Virginia on Saturday to attend an auction at Quinn’s Auction House, a great place to find treasures! After going to the Auction they Visted Fantasia Antiques at The Big Flea to view their current selection of treasures!

At The Big Flea, many were awe inspired when they were able to view and handle a rare Mark and Period Guangxu Teadust Vase, A rare and beautiful and historic Imperial Palace of China Treasure. This outstanding piece is looking for a happy home!

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER… There is no place better to expand your knowledge of Asian Arts than at the Gotheborg Forum. We highly suggest you join, and join in on the the excellent discussions of Chinese Porcelain, and all manner of Asian Artifacts. You will also expand your base of friends if you join! I DID!!!

WELL NOW IT IS TIME FOR ME TO GO TO THE LAND OF NOD, AND GO TO SLEEP, BECAUSE I HAVE A BUSY DAY TOMORROW, PRESENTING THE BEAUTIFUL TREASURES OF THE WORLD, AND HOOKING THEM UP WITH THEIR NEW OWNERS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INTEREST,

SUSAN MALONEY

And finally… a very special thanks to Fine Watches Dealer Frank who gave me a belated birthday present A rare and interesting book ‘The Dragon and The Eagle’ by Delia Goetz which was published by ‘The Foreign Policy Association’ in 1944 During WWII when our two countries China and the United States worked so closely together. This book begins with the quote “You Can’t clap with one hand. This is an old Chinese proverb, and another way of saying that people and nations like hands, must act together.” This book is dedicated to positive Chinese and American relations and I am very excited about the opportunity of reading this book.

Thank you Frank!