Lantern

Lanterns are an enduring symbol of China. More than a light, a lantern brightens a home and sends a message, whether to denote social status or signal the start of a celebration.

Craftsman shaped lanterns into animals of the Chinese zodiac for children to carry at the end of a stick. A candle burned inside to show off the amazing paper designs. China's Lantern Festival, or "yuan xiao," on the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year, has traditionally been a time for showing off lanterns.

At Shanghai Pattern, we put a modern touch on the ancient art form of lantern making. Instead of paper, the outer skin of our lanterns is pure silk shaped around thin wire frames. Our fancy fishes have 100 pieces of silk for scales and two black dots of paper mache for eyes. Everything is hand-made and we think the effect is dramatic.