Fabulous museum with the world's finest collection of Chinese antiquities. The star of the show, however, is this jadeite cabbage with insects (a locust and a katydid are in the leaves). It's not even that precious by art standards (a 19th century work by an unknown artist) - but this is the people's choice for sure. It is beautiful, as the artist used the natural colors and imperfections in the stone with such mastery.
It's so famous, they serve a real cabbage in the restaurant next door to look like the carving (I had it for lunch) and they use dried shrimp instead of bugs. I can report that it tastes just like cabbage.
The line forms early and the museum can become crowded with large, really loud groups from PRC. Their reputation is well earned. We had to flee several areas seeking peace!
Seriously, you have to wait on line for this (and keep the line moving brother) behind the velvet ropes same as if you were waiting to see the Mona Lisa in the Louvre. And don't even talk to me about the Meat Stone!
ReplyDeleteRemember the fad in the late 90s where vases were made to look like food? I still have the celery vase. I'm going to be rich!
ReplyDeleteI actually thought of you when we saw this !!?! Do you really still have it? I thought it went in a recent yard sale, but then again on deeper thinking, realized ... um ... who would buy it :)
DeleteYes, it's on a very high shelf in the garage. I was thinking it might come back in style someday and then I'd be ahead of the game. Either that, or when I'm dead and someone has to go through piles of my crap, they can find this and think "Those crazy Gen Xers!"
DeleteI guarantee I can sell that from my front stoop for somewhere between $1 and $5. People buy weird stuff here.
I look forward to weekends this summer. I want to see you execute on these impromptu sales you speak of !
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