A Dialogue of Material, Symbolism and Delight
After Asian Room I opened our East-Asian still-life series, Asian Room II continues the conversation—now subtly accented by fruit and cherry blossoms.
At its centre stands a tall, Chinese, hexagonal blue-and-white porcelain vase whose panels pair scholar figures with calligraphic characters; filled with delicate cherry blossoms, it becomes a symbol of fleeting beauty. A rounded brass vessel, finely chased with dragon motifs, overflows with mango, avocado and plump grapes that spill over the rim, lending the ensemble juicy flashes of colour.
To one side gleams an intricately carved cinnabar lacquer box—originally made to hold seal paste or a scholar’s finer writing tools—introducing a precious note of vibrant red. A small bronze lizard on a black-marble plinth nestles into the scene; in both China and Japan it is seen as a lucky household guardian, while the dragon on the brass pot carries overtones of imperial authority and prosperity. A mortar heaped with fresh ginger adds spicy freshness: in Chinese folklore ginger is a protective talisman, and in Japanese gardens it represents tranquillity and the enigmatic beauty of nature. A bright pink dragon fruit weighs down a hand-painted Japanese landscape on parchment, providing a bold colour accent. Scattered blossom petals on the warm wooden tabletop quietly mark the passage of time.
Discover the Details
As in Asian Room I, this composition invites you to explore the interplay of everyday objects, mythology and taste. Click the hotspots in the image or browse the products below to uncover each object’s story—and experience how the two rooms together weave a many-voiced dialogue of East-Asian culture.
