Curiously modern Ming

I did mention that we’d be featuring some more unusual examples of Oriental exotica - and so be it. As it’s already been picked up by one or two other bloggers (I found this link via British Blogs), I thought I’d better reveal all:

It’s official – computers really do ming!

Actually, these Ming style designs are hand painted by Stephanie Douet, the Norfolk based artist, whose iconic work, Minging Computers, is exclusively available for sale at ShopCurious.




What I love about this curiously cool creation is that it uses old computer waste, so it’s recycled and totally eco-friendly – but most of all it’s stylish and fun too. What’s more the Ming inspired designs are based on the original blue and white designs from the Ming Dynasty – a colour scheme that just happens to be the fashion du jour.


A curious fact is that, although Western Europe was the driving force for scientific advancement during the Ming Dynasty, China now leads the way in terms of global technological developments – and it’s great that we're able to appreciate the combined efforts of our creativity through works of art like this.


By the way, Stephanie also makes personalized Ming mats – and she reproduces all sorts of images in Ming form. Just send in photographs of your loved ones, family, friends, pets, houses, whatever you like – and they will be recreated in traditional Ming style on a set of six stylish plywood table mats.











The quirky subject matter which Stephanie has chosen to illustrate her own set of personalized placemats just happens to be a couple of hoodies sitting on a park bench … Now some may call that minging, but I’d call it inventive contemporary British art.

Do you?

Oriental exotica

With the current fashion for Japanese woodblock prints (check out the Kuniyoshi exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts), the resurgence of interest in Japanese kimonos and a renewed interest in Oriental style jewellery, accessories and homewares, it seems that our fascination with everything from the East is still as alive it was in the late 19th and early 20th century.


At ShopCurious, we’ve got some original 1930s Oriental-inspired pieces that look just as stylish today as they did all those years ago. There’s a wonderful mint condition vintage black satin handbag with fine quality Chinoiserie embroidery (see below left).






Chinoiserie, by the way, is the term used for the fashion for Chinese themes in decoration in Western Europe which began as early as the late 17th century, much earlier than Japoneries – the fashion for everything Japanese, which took off from around 1860.






Chinese style furnishings often feature Chinoiserie designs, or beautifully carved jade, like this fabulous lamp base (above right) – something totally unique and authentic that would add character and sophistication to any room.








We’ve also got some modern furnishings and tableware with a distinctly Eastern vibe. These curiously cool leather pouffes, (right and below left) from Buba are beautifully encrusted with Japanese glass beads and colourful crystals – plus they’re tried, tested and very comfortable to sit in too. Perfect for lounging around this summer...





You could even take one of these outside to enjoy the sunshine - it’s as full of Eastern promise as Fry’s Turkish Delight! In fact you might even be sufficiently inspired to buy an exotic tented canopy, like the ones in the iconic 1960s Fry's advert shown here (click on link to view).









If you’re not feeling quite that exotic, how about these unusual, yet understated Ming design placemats, with hand painted traditional blue and white illustrations based on original Ming art, by Norfolk based artist, Stephanie Douet?








More about Stephanie later - plus some of her more curious Chinoiserie creations ... definitely worth waiting for.

Will you?