Ingrid, the fresh cut blooms look so appealing in winter; I miss seeing my roses …

I love the colors in the porcelain, really beautiful...

Beautiful bouquet Ingrid! Thanks for sharing!

Ann

Thank you, Jin, Krista and Ann. A few of the roses still have buds so there may be more blooms if it doesn't get too cold.

Jin, the bowl and stand are separate. It's from e-bay in their antique Chinese porcelain section. Unfortunately, there are a lot of fakes being produced nowadays and you have to really know what you're doing. Anything that comes from China is guaranteed to be fake, but so are some pieces that come from Europe or the US.

This lovely and very expensive vase turned out to be a fake, which means that it's worthless because I can't sell it to anyone. That experience started me on the road of studying Chinese porcelain and how to tell a genuine piece from a fake. The plate to the left of the vase is a genuine 19th century Rose Medallion plate.

The statue in the picture above in a garden is a modern copy. If it were genuine it would be sitting in a museum!

What beautiful flowers in such a beautiful setting. You really have such a delicate an extraordinary taste Ingrid. Was the fake vase one of your earlier purchases bought sight unseen? I think when you can actually see and touch things their authenticity becomes more obvious, especially after observing the real deal. Have you ever visited the Freer gallery? Their collection is extraordinary.

Jin, that looks like a reproduction of one of the Chinese terracotta soldiers from the exhibit I told you about this summer. I'll post a couple of pictures and you can see what I mean if you'd like.

This is such interesting information, but of course, the beautiful bouquet beats all--though the bowl is exquisite. I know it's hard to garden where you live, Ingrid. But you still have the wonder of rose blooms in winter. And they are beauties. Is the large flat pink bloom SdlM? I love it. Diane

Lovely roses and bowl Ingrid. Gosh, I wish Bishops Castle was still available. It does so well in your garden.

Daisy

Vap, I found it on Amazon last night as Chinese warrior sculpture but the face and colour is so different. I like the ARS better than Amazon ($ 52 or $54 ). ..lol
Ingrid, I am sorry about the fake ones. I heard it is really tough to differentiate btw the two unless you specialized in that area. But since you are a collector I hope you got most that valuable.

But the colours and all is very vibrant and colourful.
Even if it is real there is no way I can buy it ..no way not even at Tiffany's auction. ..but can admire those who can :)
Vap, you actually send me pics through text. They were amazing. I wish they came here. I was actually studying them also. Still baffled and still undecided if they were real or fake.
Ingrid, sometimes I wonder if you have Tiffany lamps ? I went to collection here and I could not afford any but I was sure thinking of you.
Ingrid, I cannot wait for Spring to see your garden again . How are you feeling ? I read your last text at Bart's that you are still not well and before that was like a month ( I think ) Did you see a doctor ?
I really hope you get your strength back :)
Happy Holidays !!!
jin

The blooms look fabulous, Ingrid. I adore the array of pinks together. Is your soil still moist, from our one good rainfall? Mine is, but maybe more rain fell here than at your place. It’s wonderful not to have to water. They’re saying we could get some rain on Christmas, or Wednesday. I hope so, but I’ll believe it when I see it.

Circa 1760! That beautiful bowl has been very well taken of, and quite a special find. Can you imagine what it’s “seen” in all those years? The stories it could tell, if only it was able. It’s an amazing thing to ponder. Whose hands have held it, and how many places it’s been displayed, or carefully packed away...... Lisa

vaporvac, I thought that too about the similarity of the outdoor statue to the army of warriors excavated (and I think still being further excavated at this time) in China, but how much more wonderful the originals are!

My fake vase is what prompted me to begin studying Chinese porcelain, and of the over one hundred pieces I have only one or two small ones that are not the real thing. The experts on gotheborg.com taught me just about everything I know about this subject, and I'm still a member there. vaporpac, I've only seen the exhibit at the museum in San Francisco, but have heard about the Freer Gallery's. Unfortunately, I'm now pretty much confined to home with my autoimmune disease, although I do view museum holdings through the aforementioned forum's members who hail from all over the world and are kind enough to take extensive photographs, whether from Shanghai, Sweden, Germany or points in between.

Lisa, my bowl had been dropped and broke in half and was subsequently put together with metallic staples, a practice used back then to mend porcelain. If it had been untouched it would have cost much more than I'm willing to pay. I think of the damage as giving the bowl "personality". Chinese porcelain in the 18th century was extremely expensive and only the upper classes could afford it, and therefore damaged pieces were often carefully repaired rather than being discarded.

I'm sorry for getting us completely off-topic here. Jin, I don't personally care for Tiffany lamps, and the genuine article runs in five to six figures so it's just as well they are not my cup of tea.

This little 18th century statue of a laughing boy is my favorite piece of all, and he and I would like to wish you a very happy holiday season filled with joy, love and laughter.

Ingrid, what a charming piece!!! I'll see if the Freer has any of their catalogues online. I don't collect Chinese porcelain, although my mom did have a piece she always said was valuable as well as a enamel jar from Japan very similar to one that was on antiques roadshow for much more than I would have expected.

Your figurine brought back a memory of friend's Dad who stayed with me briefly. He had been the Iranian Ambassador to China during the time of the Shah and was able to escape with many of the things he'd acquired. When I met him he had brought many here to a very well known and knowledgable person who often appears on the AR to try to sell some pieces. Among them were some beautiful porcelain figurines. They were worth alot, but he was told to keep them as the market wasn't "hot" for them, but would probably grow with the growth of China. He needed the money so he sold them. I'm glad I had the opportunity to see them. They were lovely, but not nearly as charming as your laughing boy! Thank you for sharing! I'll look up a pic from the TerraCotta Soldier exhibit in a bit just for comparison. You are correct; they've only excavated a fraction.

I'm currently waiting for a friend to come help me with a toilet! Yippee!. I finally found the reason for my insane bills, but I made it worse trying to fix it. It's a nighmare as all I can see are dollar bills going down the drain. He was going to come tomorrow, but after seeing a video I sent him, he said he was on his way. Thank goodness for good friends. Now, I'm really OT! ; 0

Beautiful roses Ingrid and the whole display is so lovely as well! Have a wonderful holiday!!! Tiffany

Everything you do is so charming, Ingrid. Those photos are exquisite!

vapor, what a fascinating story about the former ambassador to China. I would have loved to see his porcelain, and no doubt it was incredible. So very sorry about your problem, and I hope it's fixed very soon! There is no peace or happiness when your toilet is broken!

Thank you so much, Tiffany and Sheila. It's my privilege to share with all of you.

Your roses are beautiful, the porcelain is fabulous! I love chinoiserie - my pieces are repros, but that antique quarter sawn oak table is what always catches my eye.