Reddit mentions of Gems from the South: Traditional Crafts of Guangong Province

I remember seeing this piece in a random book, and I spent the past few hours digging through my history of what I have checked out at the art library.

It is interesting to contrast this description that was originally written in Cantonese and translated into English:

> This piece is made of many detachable parts. Different carving techniques including carving-in-the round, relief and open work are used. The circular base is carved with three dragons in clouds on the side and four bands of decorations on the top, each with a different design. The decorations consist of dragons in clouds, chrysanthemums, floral sprays and stringed pearls. A total of three sets of decorations appear on the vertical pole. At the bottom is the immortal magu presenting a birthday gift. Further up is a ball of nine concentric layers. The surface of the ball is carved with two soaring dragons in openwork and twelve round holes through which eight spherical layers can be seen inside. Above the ball is a grooved cylinder carved with openwork decoration. Connecting the three sets of decorations are solid ivory columns that look like bamboo joints. On top of the pole is a tray on which rests an ivory ball of fifteen concentric layers carved with openwork floral designs. The design of this ivory carving is highly innovative, skillfully made, and represents the great achievements of Guangzhou ivory carvers.

Gems from the South: Traditional Crafts of Guangdong Province (2002), pg. 75.

The Chinese Language (Mandarin) and Chinese culture is so particularly rich that it is somehow similar to this complicated artwork, a sort of ivory enigma. If you follow Churchill's famous quote about Russia to the core, you will find the beginning to China (the quote: "Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.")

It is published by HKU press, where I first saw it. It can be ordered from amazon but it is also available here:

http://www.hkbookcity.com/showbook2.php?serial_no=89033

For an additional example as to how different Westerners come to view and know China (not that it is a particularly wrong view) is evident in the difference in the description for the book on amazon vs. 香港書城 (hkbookcity)

A:

> Traditional Guangdong crafts are well known for being decorative and utilitarian. They demonstrate a unique style, distinct from that of North China. This catalogue presents a selection from the Guangdong Museum collection.

香港:

> This volume documents an exhibition at the University of Hong Kong of presenting 94 representative pieces of crafts selected from the Guangdong Provincial Museum collection, including ceramics, inkstones, embroideries, ivory, stone, brick and wood carvings, enamel wares, glass wares, clocks andfurniture.

> Guangdong, situated in the south of China, has always been a rich province with favorable geographical conditions. It has developed its own unique civilization, both materially and spiritually, since ancient times. The industry, dexterity and ingenuity characteristic of the people of Guangdong have encouraged the creation of exquisite and distinctive handicrafts, full of the spirit of their age. During the Ming dynasty, the development of handicrafts grew alongside that of economy and culture in Guangdong, and continued to flourish in the second half of the Qing dynasty. This had a profound influence on the history of arts and crafts in China.

> The volume aims to promote greater appreciation of the civilization of the Lingnan region in China.

I have just one more fucking surprise. Behold the entire artwork:

http://i.imgur.com/bFANXHJ.jpg?1