Sachet
The first wooden artifact which I designed and made, using ebony wood, brass, and copper wire inlay was a Chinese sachet. I was attempting to draw on the mortise and tenon[1] construction to extract the spirit of Monumentality as expressed in traditional Chinese architecture, aiding to project beauty and a ritualistic aspect to this small personal accessory. My choice of using the mortise and tenon method was also a functional decision, as the spaces created as a result of the interlocking mortise and tenon components allows for the long-lasting volatilization and dispersion of the fragrance of the aromatic herbs held within.
As a result of the design, the whole piece can be disassembled and reassembled without the use of any tools, screws or glue. When in use, the sachet it filled with herbs or other small objects that will fit into the small rectangular cavity running through its centre, there is a small cube attached to a line situated at the base of the open sachet which can be pulled, by means of the attached string towards the top, thereby simultaneously closing the sachet and compacting the herbs which have been placed within.
Paperweight
Besides the 'Four Treasures of Study [1]', the paperweight was also a vital piece of stationary used by Ancient Chinese literates and artists. As traditional Chinese Xuan paper [2] is very thin and easily crumpled, which the brush tends to move the paper, so that the paperweights are needed to hold the paper down, usually used in pairs. The Chinese literati had a passion for appreciating their beloved assorted collections of objects and bibelots [3] kept in their studies, as for the paperweight (literal Chinese: 镇 suppress 尺 ruler) has the meaning of 'calming the mind' and 'guarding the house', warding off evil spirits and avoiding harm; the ‘尺 ruler’ symbolizing the decent and disciplined qualities of true gentlemen.
The design represented by the movement of folding fan, an iconic representation of traditional Oriental design. In Oriental opera, the opening, closing, and various other states of the fan express the mood of the character holding it, making it an indispensable prop piece for conveying tacit meaning to the audience. In this case, I have designed this paperweight in the form of folding fans which are just about to be opened, with one corner lifted, giving a subtle feeling of tension when placed together in pairs.
