Somehow this China House seems perfectly situated in Tianjin. In Shanghai it would be just another expensive folly. In Tianjin it's a statement of purpose. How did you feel seeing all that antique furniture surrounded by so much... so much "orange'!!? And that Tang dynasty, one of a kind, irreplaceable, 1300 year old vase standing happily outside - another 'perfect in Tianjin" placement. Everybody can see it here. 20 tonnes of brazilian agate? Qing dynasty plates on a ceiling? A Song dynasty plate you can touch? Like I said, this collection is perfect for Tianjin. I don't even know what to think!
I could not explain it but you are SO right about Shanghai vs. Tianjin. Seeing all the furniture was trippy, I spent too much time thinking only about furniture, and the company’s official colour was orange so…. weird. Maybe on a second go around a furniture-focused study.
Nobody could explain the insanity of hanging ancient pottery from a wire or positioning a cultural treasure on a pole in the alley….
You gotta know a few plates have fallen to the floor as the glue has failed. I don’t know what to think about that.
with your companys colour being orange that whole sensation must have been bizarre! those walls are -- well -- orange!! I guess with the Tang vase outside, he was making some kind of point about cultural treasures being available for all to see, continuity of culture in lived experience -- or maybe he was having a moment. who knows. as for the fallen plates - he seemed to have access to SO many, maybe he thought a few dropped didn't matter?? he certainly had a lot of money to play with!!
I couldn't much information on the guy, it may be out there, but beyond a short quote or two, there's nothing in his words. No interviews. There could be a whole seedy side to this.... I'm trying not to hope 😂 Maybe in a round two later.
Really loved this, Paul. The shift from “what a mess” to something approaching awe was beautifully handled. It reminded me of when I visited Nek Chand’s Rock Garden in Chandigarh, India - another strange, obsessive dream made reality. I had the same first reaction, then found myself oddly moved. Looking forward to more!
To be honest it is absolutely mesmerising. Boggles my mind the value of the items within. Reminds me of Dali and Gaudi…. A bit of the surreal?
Very surreal being there, disorientating, confusing… beautiful? Not really?
Somehow this China House seems perfectly situated in Tianjin. In Shanghai it would be just another expensive folly. In Tianjin it's a statement of purpose. How did you feel seeing all that antique furniture surrounded by so much... so much "orange'!!? And that Tang dynasty, one of a kind, irreplaceable, 1300 year old vase standing happily outside - another 'perfect in Tianjin" placement. Everybody can see it here. 20 tonnes of brazilian agate? Qing dynasty plates on a ceiling? A Song dynasty plate you can touch? Like I said, this collection is perfect for Tianjin. I don't even know what to think!
I could not explain it but you are SO right about Shanghai vs. Tianjin. Seeing all the furniture was trippy, I spent too much time thinking only about furniture, and the company’s official colour was orange so…. weird. Maybe on a second go around a furniture-focused study.
Nobody could explain the insanity of hanging ancient pottery from a wire or positioning a cultural treasure on a pole in the alley….
You gotta know a few plates have fallen to the floor as the glue has failed. I don’t know what to think about that.
with your companys colour being orange that whole sensation must have been bizarre! those walls are -- well -- orange!! I guess with the Tang vase outside, he was making some kind of point about cultural treasures being available for all to see, continuity of culture in lived experience -- or maybe he was having a moment. who knows. as for the fallen plates - he seemed to have access to SO many, maybe he thought a few dropped didn't matter?? he certainly had a lot of money to play with!!
I couldn't much information on the guy, it may be out there, but beyond a short quote or two, there's nothing in his words. No interviews. There could be a whole seedy side to this.... I'm trying not to hope 😂 Maybe in a round two later.
He's probably just a very rich guy who is obsessed with porcelain. There are worse obsessions to have!!
😊 I agree, this is enough for now.
The architecture is incredible 🤩
Some kind of crazy dream, huh?
Ahh Jingdezhen. I so wish to visit it someday for its porcelain gaiwan.
It is really worth the trip, you will love it. The “Porcelain Palace” is optional though 😉🙏🏻
Really loved this, Paul. The shift from “what a mess” to something approaching awe was beautifully handled. It reminded me of when I visited Nek Chand’s Rock Garden in Chandigarh, India - another strange, obsessive dream made reality. I had the same first reaction, then found myself oddly moved. Looking forward to more!
Appreciate the understanding, it is something like true honesty and doing a thing just to do it that gets us.