Peranakan, Baba–Nyonya and Straits Chinese are all names used for the descendants of early Chinese traders, mostly from the Fukien province of China, who can trace their migration to the 14th century Southern Malaya, Malacca, Penang and Singapore Peranakan, all translate from Malay as descendant, Babas referring to male descendants and Nyonya to female descendants

Bisque porcelain or biscuit porcelain, takes its name from it’s first or initial firing, when the brittle porcelain could be snapped off like a biscuit Bisque porcelain is also widely known as “biscuit ware”, unglazed ware and more popularly as “parian” ware

The English county of Staffordshire is synonymous with the production of porcelain and pottery Staffordshire is uniquely positioned with all the potting clay and the plentiful water supply necessary for the manufacture of fine ceramics

I must first admit to being a convinced photophobic, a term defined as “an intense aversion to strong light” On entering a brightly lit room, I find myself subconsciously groping for the dimmer switch

“Classical Greece”, meaning, authoritative: of recognized authority or excellence; "the definitive work on Greece"; or, relating to the most highly developed stage of an earlier civilization and its culture This interpretation of the term “classic” clearly defines the Greece of 500 BC, which has constantly re-inspired the Western world

Jane Austen started to write “Northanger Abbey” in 1798 It was sold to a publisher in Bath for £10 in 1803 but as he felt it was a bit out of fashion with its Gothic subject, put it in a desk draw, and there it sat until finally published, posthumously, in 1818

Kakiemon, pronounced, Kak-i-eh-mon, is all about balance, a small range of distinctive colors, known as “the palette”, pure white porcelain and a perfect eye for harmony In the world of art and design, colour is important, in fact, of primary importance, with many specific colours bearing the name of their originator

The importance of interior lighting is an undisputed fact with the table lamp making a major contribution The illumination of a room, hall or living space, is only half the story, for a lamp, when viewed as more than "just lighting" can serve, along with pictures and antiques, not only as a work of art, but a functional work of art, offering visual pleasure while fulfilling a most practical role

Pottery is a survivor If there is one thing that is found on an archeological dig, its pottery

Porcelain, is today, so widely available and is such an every day commodity, that we could very easily overlook just how different it was The West was introduced to oriental porcelain as early as the mid 15th century, when precious examples appeared in Lisbon, Portugal being the first to acquire trading rights from Imperial China

Every niche subject has its specific, descriptive words, its recognised terminology These are words of international understanding, conveying a clear picture of the object being described

The tea we drink and know so well is actually a camellia, Camellia sinensis First discovered as a tea, or, dried leaf tip that could be added to boiling water as a drink

We have all heard about the “message in a bottle” Here we look at an antique lamp with an ancient message