Stories

Why Character Matters More Than Factory Uniformity At The Silk Road Collection, we work with objects that are valued precisely because they do not feel factory-made. Our collection includes antique pieces, old materials, and newly produced items made with traditional methods and finishes. These are objects with texture, variation, and presence. They are not designed […]

In today’s interiors, warmth and calm are found in simplicity. Across residential, retail, and hospitality design, natural palettes continue to dominate with shades of clay, terracotta, and sand bringing an understated depth to contemporary spaces. Designers are rediscovering the beauty of raw surfaces and the quiet strength of imperfection. The subtle power of the Scratched […]

“Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a dark, lack-luster eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, now faint, […]

Chinese history stretches back for thousands of years; a history full of wars, revolutions, inventions and clashes of culture. It is no wonder then that some knowledge will forever be lost in time or mysteries yet to be uncovered, even in our technological advanced age.  One of the most enigmatic mysteries is a curiously modern-looking […]

“Nowruz Mubarak” to all our Iranian friends! (or Happy Persian New Year!) For everyone who does not know this holiday, let us introduce you to this family spring celebration! A Special Holiday On March 20th (the first day of spring), people in Iran and other Western and Central Asian countries celebrated the start of the […]

Rice has been known to man for more than 10 000 years, but in no other country than China has this grain made such an impact on culture and growth of civilization. Almost four thousand years ago a great and terrible flood swept from the Yellow River over China. Chinese mythology tells us that this […]

Enriching your house with unique and exotic decorations is nothing new. Hundreds of years before you decided to adorn your living room with a Japanese lacquer table or a stone Buddha head, people were already enthusiastically ordering and importing Asian objects to show off to their friends. The excitement Europe already had for Asia 400 […]

Collectors and enthusiasts of Asian antiques, and Chinese art in particular, might have heard of Sam and Myrna Myers, an American couple who have been collecting Asian antiques for over fifty years. They are well known for having assembled one of the largest, privately owned collections of Chinese jade and Asian objects during these years.  […]

Every now and then, you come across an art exhibition that leaves you utterly captivated. That’s exactly how we felt after visiting “Washi, the Sublimated Paper,” a stunning showcase of modern Asian art. The exhibition featured the remarkable work of Japanese contemporary artist Kinji ISOBE, who hails from the Mino region—famous for its production of […]

What is more beautiful than an unique basket or antique pot occupying the spotlight in your interior? We are in love with the cracked glazings, beautiful hues and colors, the shape and details that can be found on many old containers. Many of these pots and vessels look great on their own, but they can […]

Zardozi is a beautiful and elaborate embroidery style mainly popular in Iran, India and Pakistan where it has been used for many thousands of years. The word Zardozi is Persian and means ‘sewing with gold thread’, but its history goes back to ancient India. In this ancient craft of metal embroidery gold and silver were […]

Remember the intro of Disney’s Mulan? Clouds and mountains appeared as if drawn by an invisible hand and we automatically connected these animations with China. Few images are more Chinese in our imagination than their famous black and elegant calligraphy.  Calligraphy remains one of the most important of the Chinese arts. In Chinese history, the […]

Visit March 2014: the Han Yang Ling Mausoleum Considered to be one of the most important discoveries of the last 25 years, the Yang Ling Mausoleum is the joint tomb of the Western Han Dynasty Emperor Jing Di (fourth emperor of the Western Han Dynasty) and his Empress, Wang. It is located about 20 km […]

In every interior you can find something that has no more use to its owner, apart from maybe some emotional value. Often, we throw these items away, hoard them or we find a new purpose for these old things. Take, for example, a broken bike. If you are really creative, you can make a one-of-a-kind […]

Every year for two short weeks people in Japan come together to enjoy ‘hanami’ or traditional cherry blossom viewing. Many parties and picnics are organized before or after school and work. Even at night groups of people enjoy themselves underneath cherry trees lit with paper lanterns. The delicate cherry blossom can be seen as a […]

When you think of ancient pigments, you probably imagine beautiful murals, intricate pottery, or the famous Terracotta Army—each one painted with colors that have stood the test of time. But what if I told you that one of these ancient pigments, Han purple, is not just a stunning color but also a gateway to some […]

Sometimes we do not have to go very far to discover the wonders of Asian Art. The next time you are on vacation in France, do not miss the Asian Art Museum in Nice – it is worth it! The impressions of our special envoy… Set among the scents and greenery, the Asian Art Museum […]

Many small rooms and spaces feel cramped if you try to add pieces of furniture. Seating arrangements can become a hassle when family and friends come over. Small apartments need to optimize their space to stay comfy and inviting. The worst experience is searching for functional furniture that can be difficult to find and are […]

When one thinks of Chinese porcelain, the image that often comes to mind is that of a beautifully crafted ginger jar—round, elegant, and often adorned with intricate designs. These iconic pieces have not only graced Chinese homes for centuries but have also become highly sought-after items in the West, symbolizing the timeless appeal of Chinese […]

What do Vincent van Gogh, the emperors of China and a school bus have in common? They are all yellow! Yellow is the brightest color that we know of. Some blind people can even see this color! It is the most visible color from a distance, attracts loads of attention and signals caution (think about […]

Sourcing the Perfect Imperfect Designs with The Silk Road Collection The art of sourcing the right weathered, imperfect or Wabi Sabi-like designs is both challenging and important for interior designers and design businesses. Not only do these designs add character and a unique touch to a space, but they also contribute to the overall ambiance […]

Looking for a trusted wholesale partner? We help you in your search for authentic and imperfect beauty that brings character and depth to any space. Our sourcing team has a deep appreciation for the simple yet refined elegance of antique pottery, and we’re passionate about sharing it with you. In building our collection we are […]

Wabi sabi is a Japanese aesthetic that celebrates the beauty of imperfection and the natural passage of time. This style has been gaining popularity in interior design as it offers a calm and grounding atmosphere. If you’re an interior designer looking to create a wabi sabi space, antique pottery is the perfect element to include. […]

The Silk Road Collection on the road … to Turkey! Expanding our collection with epic Turkish pottery and other treasures “It was hot and dry when my plane landed and dust choked the air when I found my car. Soon I was surrounded by Turkish desert. After hours of careful driving between sudden potholes and […]

We get so much amazing compliments on our pottery table lamps and decorative table lamps we thought we should make a list of the most beautiful table lamps we have in our stock right now! These are only ten of our favourites this year, but of course there is lots more to see in our […]

Unglazed pots make great planters because they absorb water from soggy soil. Over time this extra water will evaporate and function as a kind of air conditioning for the plant in summer. While this is ideal during hot weather, it is a disaster during winter. Make sure you clean and store these pots inside a […]

How do you keep ceramic pots from cracking? Ceramic pots left outside during winter can become damaged during freezing temperatures. This is because water expands when it freezes. The damage can come from still water at the bottom of the pot, water in the soil if you use the pot as planter, or even water […]

Tips on how to take care of antique pots and planters Antique pots as planters and decoration We can imagine you would be a little hesitant in turning an antique pot into a flower vase or planter. Fertilisers, salts in the soil, algae and water can leave behind many deposits and marks which can affect […]

History of the Bi-disc The object is flat and disc-like with a small hole in the middle; its colours could range from dark, dusty brown to translucent white; it is an ancient symbol, but its look is curiously modern: we are talking here about the Bi-Disc. This object has been hanging around in Chinese history […]

Furniture designed for sitting has a pretty recent history for a country as ancient as China. Before the introduction of chairs, Chinese people sat on the floor or sitting mats. An elevated seat, usually single, only existed as status symbols, e.g. thrones. The earliest indications of chairs came with Christian missionaries and Buddhist monks who […]

The wabi-sabi aesthetic holds an appreciation for the imperfect objects in your surroundings, whether caused by age or natural formation. This Japanese philosophy is in complete contrast with Western ideal of beauty by perfection. Take a moment to see the beauty in a repaired crack or in a weathered surface.  Many unique objects in our […]

The philosophy of wabi sabi has become an unforgettable fixture of many interior designs. The beauty of weathered nature and time has been embraced and continues to please our senses. At The Silk Road Collection, we have taken the concept of wabi sabi a step further. Beyond the aesthetic pleasures of imperfection, we find a […]

Understated elegance and beautiful imperfection, those are the words that best describe The Silk Road Collection. We are known worldwide for the subtle elegance that our collection of decorations, pottery and objets d’art adds to modern interiors and exteriors. For over fifteen years, we have been travelling around Asia, looking for new inspirations in old […]

Chinese civilisation is one of the oldest continuous civilisations in the world. Written records exist as early as 3500 years ago, while evidence of human populations around the Yellow River go back at least 100,000 years. China brought forth fascinating inventions and discoveries which changed the world: gunpowder, paper, the compass and silk, just to […]

Last August, Knack Weekend magazine featured an article about the Chinese community in Belgium with an interview with Yumi Ng, an Antwerpian author with Cantonese roots. It is a good article to gather a bit of knowledge about Chinese culture from someone who grew up in two diferent cultures. We are especially delighted that The […]

Our long time fans know that one of The Silk Road Collection specialties lies in finding beautiful and unique pots all over Asia. It is not just a big part of our business, we really LOVE finding these pots and placing them in new interiors and exteriors. You could map our journeys by the pots […]

A couple of months ago, while visiting the ancient kingdom of Lanna (Thailand), we found ourselves at a pottery in the middle of the jungle. We had decided against searching for old or antique earthenware and instead focused on newly made pots that fit our style (handmade, old looking, fitting in wildly divers interior styles, unique […]

The majority of jewelry in our collection, is from the ethnic minority tribe Miao in China. With a population of almost 9 million people, this tribe makes one of the largest minority groups in China. After immigration in a long history, today they live mainly in Guizhou, Yunnan, Hunan, Hubei, Hanain and the Guangxi Zhuang […]