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Shanti CK's avatar

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?

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Paul Dotta's avatar

Very surreal being there, disorientating, confusing… beautiful? Not really?

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Debbie Liu's avatar

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!

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Paul Dotta's avatar

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.

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Debbie Liu's avatar

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!!

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Paul Dotta's avatar

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.

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Debbie Liu's avatar

He's probably just a very rich guy who is obsessed with porcelain. There are worse obsessions to have!!

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Paul Dotta's avatar

😊 I agree, this is enough for now.

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Breanna Mariposa's avatar

The architecture is incredible 🤩

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Paul Dotta's avatar

Some kind of crazy dream, huh?

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Peck Gee Chua 蔡佩芝's avatar

Ahh Jingdezhen. I so wish to visit it someday for its porcelain gaiwan.

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Paul Dotta's avatar

It is really worth the trip, you will love it. The “Porcelain Palace” is optional though 😉🙏🏻

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Nico Ranng's avatar

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!

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Paul Dotta's avatar

Appreciate the understanding, it is something like true honesty and doing a thing just to do it that gets us.

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