Plant ornaments are often used to enhance the setting of tearoom and tea brewing area. Many tea hobbyist enjoy planting small plants in small pots and use them them as ornaments to enhance the atmosphere of the tearoom.
Having a good collection of these plant pots is quite common. Some of the pots are done by famous artist using Yixing purple clay. They can be very intricately detailed and finely carved. It is a joy to appreciate the beauty of these plant pots and certainly delightful to have a healthy plant growing in it.
Plant cultivation is a nice and zen hobby that goes well in tandem with tea art and culture. The process of growing plant harmonise with nature and inculcate a sense of calmness and peace. And bringing nature into the tea room certainly enhance the ambience and accentuate the tranquil mood of the tea ceremony.
Plant ornaments are certainly nature’s art of peace and tranquility which harmonize with tea art and culture.
In an ancient pond, a frog leaps into the sound of water.
古池や蛙飛び込む水の音
~ Matsuo Basho ~
Chinese art has many themes that spread across different medium of expression. “Squirrels and grapes” 松鼠葡萄 Sōngshǔ pútao theme is one of the many popular theme. Its’ meaning can be metaphorically translated as “abundance in fortune and offsprings”.
This theme is widely depicted in various Chinese art medium e.g. in paintings, porcelain, carvings and Yixing teapots. Art collector sometimes like to collect the same theme in different medium. This is one of my favorite theme too. The level of appreciation can be thoroughly enjoyed even though they are depicted in different mediums. It seems to unify the different medium together and enhance the level of enjoyment.
Here is three different mediums from my collection which depict the squirrels and grapes theme.
A painting done in squirrel and grapes theme.
A soapstone carving done in squirrels and grapes theme.
And finally, a 1970s large Yixing teapot done in squirrels and grapes theme.
It is really so delightful to watch the expression of the squirrels in the presence of abundant grapes.
A humble tea journey…in tranquility and peace.
teaism99 
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