Living with Legend: L’Objet and the Han Dynasty

Growing up in China, I spent much of my childhood in the Han dynasty.  Many of my childhood heroes came from this period, and I would travel 2,000 years back in time to go on adventures with them while sitting in class or doing homework.

As I grew older, I realized I wasn’t the only one.  The Han dynasty is probably the most important period in the history of China.  Its institutions were emulated by all the dynasties that followed it, and it defined what it means to be Chinese.  Even today, the word “Han” means a person in Chinese, most of the Chinese people are called the “Han people,” and the Chinese language the “Han language.”

Tomb Relief from Han Dynasty, courtesy of Metropolitan Musuem of Art
Tomb Relief from Han Dynasty, courtesy of Metropolitan Museum of Art

Artistically, the Han dynasty has a more streamlined, almost modern, look compared to the floral styles of the later Ming and Qing dynasties.   This is the style which inspired Elad and L’Objet’s new Han Dynasty collection.  For example, the dinnerware’s border motif, available in gold or white, recalls the geometric pattern from those ancient times:

Han Dynasty Gold Dinnerware
Han Dynasty Gold Dinnerware

The tea canisters, black canister bowl, and black canister vase are based on the shapes of urns and other household objects:

Han Dynasty Collection Canisters
Han Dynasty Collection Canisters

Finally, these salt and pepper shakers vaguely remind me of both ancient Chinese drinking cups and geometric latticework patterns:

Han Dynasty Collection Salt Pepper Shakers
Han Dynasty Collection Salt Pepper Shakers

So even if I can’t go back in time to feast with my heroes, I can share a little of their artistic tradition.

Courtesy of guocui.zhonghualong.com
Courtesy of guocui.zhonghualong.com

Take a look at L’Objet’s other fanciful creations, richly inspired by art and history from around the world.  Which time or place is your favorite?