Rose Painted Glassware and Embroidered Napkins - Antiques Collected - Manners and Mementos

Rose Painted Glassware and Embroidered Napkins - Antiques Collected - Manners and Mementos

Sometimes collected antiques gain meaning because of associated memories of similar pieces which were part of a personal past.  Such is the case with the two pieces in this post. The glassware reminds of lemonade and milk and cookies.  The cloth napkins are a reminder of the politeness and grace which are still the rule at many fine dining events. 

Indian Textiles - Turquoise and Tangerine Brocade Rug

Indian Textiles - Turquoise and Tangerine Brocade Rug

This brocaded rug was purchased by me when traveling in India. The blue and orange colors and flower pattern were very appealing and still to this day refresh the eye when viewed and admired.  Take a look and see if you find the rug inspiring too.

Rug

Flower Detail

Border Detail

Large Flower Detail

Geometric Print Scarf - French Style - Travel Memento

Geometric Print Scarf  -  French Style  -  Travel Memento

Geometric Print Scarf

I felt fabulous as a teen purchasing this pink and blue geometric pattern scarf on my first trip to Europe. The scarf was my recognition of French style at a very young age. 

Indian Textiles - Double-Sided Embroidery Orange and Purple - Scarves (Part 3)

Indian Textiles - Double-Sided Embroidery Orange and Purple - Scarves (Part 3)

This scarf has an orange and purple swirl theme pattern back and front.

Indian Textiles - Double-Sided Embroidery Paisley Pattern - Scarves (Part 2)

Indian Textiles -  Double-Sided Embroidery Paisley Pattern - Scarves (Part 2)

The  swirl pattern is mirrored on both sides of the scarf creating the double sided embroidery with a single set of stitches.

Paisley Pattern Scarf

Double Side Embroidery

Indian Scarf with Embroidery

Indian Scarf Embroidery Detail

Indian Textiles - including Double-Sided Embroidery - Scarves

Indian Textiles - including Double Sided Embroidery - Scarves

This is the first post with examples of embroidered scarves from India.  The scarves are cream colored fine wool with decorative multi-color embroidery.  Included will be some pieces where the embroidery can be viewed as the same pattern from both back and front - referred to as double-sided.  I  purchased these scarves from a merchant in New Delhi during a trip where I also visited the majestic Taj Mahal.  I was privileged to see the many beautiful examples of this textile craft worn by the women in India.  In the United States these treasures have been worn for warmth and also have been greatly admired since their purchase in 1980.

African Kente Cloth - Travel memento

African Kente Cloth - Travel memento

Many travelers to Africa bring back a piece of finely woven kente cloth to celebrate their travel to this continent.  I followed this trend with this piece that I returned home carrying for display and for sharing with my friends in 1980.

Hong Kong and Tokyo textiles - Mianao (Coat) and Chi-pao (Dress)

Hong Kong and Tokyo textiles -  Mianao (Coat) and Chi-pao (Dress)

The bright yellow silk coat or Mianao was purchased in Hong Kong on my first trip to Asia as a gift to a special family member several years younger than I.  It reminded me of the strength of family ties because bright yellow is the color worn in a Taiwanese funeral procession by the fifth generation, a great great grandchild. The yellow is a tag symbolizing the longevity and the fruitfulness of the loved one who has passed.  Ultimately, it was worn in my family as a similar symbol of recognition although there was no funeral involved just a school dress up occasion.  The second featured item in the photos is also from the same trip and is a brightly striped wool cowl neck dress. It was a knitwear dress fashioned in the style of a Chinese Chi-pao, a form of attire worn then as a style of formal national dress by Chinese women.  It was common back in that period for westerners to have a Chi-pao handmade as a token or memento of a trip to Hong Kong. The  traditional dresses from Hong Kong were frequently silk or silk like concoctions covered in beautiful and complex embroideries.  My version purchased in  Tokyo was very much a "lost in translation" type of memento with a flavor of both East and West.  It was very exciting to enter a Japanese department store and purchase this piece which seemed very high style in the late 1970s.  It was bright and colorful like the city in which it was purchased.  It felt like I had acquired an example of the fine craftsmanship both modern and ancient that was everywhere in Tokyo.  The dress was also a symbol like the technology in the nearby Sony store that I visited the same day that "made in Japan" was now a term of pride.  "Made in China" was soon after to go mainstream too for everything from textiles to electronics hastened by investment from businessmen all over Asia.