Tomorrow is Easter Sunday but my thoughts wander in the East, with visions of Chinese blue & white porcelain and bouquets of branches & flowers swirling.
Carolyn Roehm wrote a book about her fascination with blue & white, “A Passion for Blue & White” which is a wonderful decorative inspiration! The exhibit that I wrote about in a previous post, “The Emperors Private Paradise” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art informs in a deeper and significant way. I will be putting together a “Tablescape” for the Garden Center of New Canaan‘s fundraiser next week. Sallea Antiques decided to use a magnificent Chinese blue & white porcelain of the Fitzhugh design.
This is the vase I will be using. It is a rare form of Fitzhugh with a BIG price tag, and I am a little nervous to have it in my home this week end. I guess having raised children and labradors in an active home has made me aware of what can happen to precious objects! But the labradors have gone to the happy hunting grounds and the small Cavalier King Charles spaniel won’t be able to reach this treasure!
This is what I saw last week at the Met
This is an object that was made during the Qianlong era and has been lent by the Palace Museum in Beijing. The cobalt blues are similar and the feather borders at the top are remarkably similar. The exhibit at the Met has made me acutely aware of the Chinese use of symbolism in the arts and of the connections between man and Nature. I might use branches of a cherry tree that I cut this morning
with the awareness that they are a promise of rebirth and Spring. Even in a few short hours, the buds are quietly opening assuring that Winter is behind us and new life is coming.
There are more flowers to be added with some “conditioning” over the week end. These are not from my garden, so there will be a little disconnect with nature for this arrangement…just a little
Believe me, I am not up to the task of putting this altogether! Jan from Sallea Antiques has staged the tablescape, and a dear friend who is a superb flower arranger has agreed to come and tweek the arrangement (it may go beyond tweaking….!)
Happy Easter everyone!
Jayne In Georgia 
The love affair with blue and white is a common theme in this family! From mom’s Grand Union ‘specials’ to my ill-fated Royal Copenhagen. Can’t wait to see the arrangement. The tulips are beautiful as is your photography!
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I love blue and white, but quite honestly I got nervous just thinking about that vase–super glue comes to mind! BTW, somebody’s little sister sent me here…
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Perish the thought! It did make it back to the shop safely, happy to say!
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I love Chinese porcelain. And I have no doubt you will make a gorgeous arrangement for it. Too bad I couldn’t have done some calligraphy for you! And I agree with Jody — your photos are grand.
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Hello Jayne, you have a lovely blog! I found the link on Jody’s site. My name is Delisa, I am 48 years old and I live in a small town in Georgia. I love to knit, crochet and write. I have been blogging now for about 9 months. Gardening is also a passion of mine, although I don’t have the ability to get my hands into the soil the way I once did, due to some disabilities. I now enjoy taking pictures and collecting books and pictures of beautiful gardens. Your garden is doing wonderfully. I also love blue and white china and have been collecting pieces for years. Your flower arrangement sounds beautiful, simple and elegant. I hope you have a lovely evening and a good week ahead! Delisa 🙂
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Thank you for coming for a visit! COme again!
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your sis said to come over for a visit
glad I did
I love blue and white..how about that?
I think I will look around a bit
might just stay
your sis is right ..you are good with a camera
I’ll be back
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Happy to have a visitor – anytime!
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