Creating Calm, Collected Interiors for Summer
As summer arrives and our homes fill with natural light, many of us instinctively look for ways to make our interiors feel lighter, calmer and more relaxed. While seasonal updates...
Latest News
The Mid-Autumn Festival: History, Traditions and Cultural Significance
Every year, as the harvest season approaches and the moon shines at its brightest, millions of people across China and around the world gather to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节, Zhōngqiū Jié). Falling on the 15th day of the 8th lunar...
Fine Details, Timeless Craft: How to Read the Language of Chinese Furniture
Antique Chinese furniture offers more than surface appeal. Its structure, decoration and materials all carry meaning. These details help identify a piece’s age, region and original use. For collectors or first-time buyers, knowing what to look for can make all...
A Bold Accent for Summer or Celebration: Styling with Red Lacquer
Red lacquered furniture has long been valued in Chinese design for its rich colour and symbolic meaning. In Chinese culture, red represents luck, happiness and vitality, and it has traditionally been used on furniture for weddings, ceremonies and festive occasions....
Chinese Ancestor Paintings: A Journey from Tradition to Trend
Chinese ancestor paintings offer a unique blend of artistic portraiture and reverence for family history. For centuries, honouring ancestors has been central to Chinese culture - a tradition rooted in Confucian filial piety and the belief that properly venerated forebears...
Bradford City of Culture 2025: A Year of Culture for the Whole Family
Discover Bradford 2025: A Year of Culture for the Whole Family Bradford has been named the UK’s City of Culture for 2025, and the city has been preparing for an incredible year full of cultural celebrations, artistic events, and family-friendly...
Recreating the Serenity of a Traditional Chinese Garden
Traditional Chinese gardens are renowned for their tranquillity, elegance and for creating the perfect balance between nature and architecture. Chinese culture has a long and highly revered history of beautiful garden design, and horticulture and cultivation are activities which are...
The Iconic Blue and White Ceramics of Jingdezhen
Here at Shimu our ceramics collection features a selection of beautiful blue and white items for your home. Our range of blue and white Chinese porcelain includes classic ginger jars, temple jars, ceramic stools and more. From vase lamp bases, perfect...
Cabinet of Curiosities – How to Display a Treasured Collection
Showcasing collections has evolved from 16th-century cabinets of curiosities to modern displays. Whether shelving rare ceramics or protecting delicate items behind glass, displaying treasured pieces reflects personal taste and passion.
Read now
2025: The Year Of the Snake
Chinese New Year falls this year on Wednesday the 29th of January, with celebrations taking place across China and the rest of the world as we move from the Year of the Dragon into the Year of the Snake. In...
