Singapore has opened up post-pandemic, so the shop is re-opened for business! Sorry for the long wait!

Chinese Deep in the Courtyard Gardens Hair stick Inspired by Ouyang Xiu

$27.00

庭院深深深几许

Materials: brass, crystal, jade, cloisonne butterfly, glass teardrops

Metal hair stick length: Approx 18.5cm Dangle length: Approx 14.5cm

Inspired by my fav Ouyang Xiu poem 《蝶恋花·庭院深深深几许》 (Song dynasty) about a wife who waits in vain for her philandering husband’s return while trapped within her home.

庭院深深深几许,

杨柳堆烟,帘幕无重数。

玉勒雕鞍游冶处,楼高不见章台路。

雨横风狂三月暮,

门掩黄昏,无计留春住。

泪眼问花花不语,乱红飞过秋千去。

I can’t seem to find a good English translation of this online so I may take a stab at translating it myself if I find the time and the mood.

The exquisite golden birdcage has a teeny bird in it representing the confined and lonely life of the lady in the poem who bemoans her faded youth and straying husband. The butterfly is cloisonne and the green glass teardrops represent the willows of the garden while the clear crystal teardrop represents her tears as she tearfully asks the flowers for answers.