Stories of Things is pleased to present our next session to be held 7-9 pm on December 9th, 2024 at the Sketch Yard Restaurant near the RAS Reading Room.

Gabriel Ray Chih Le Merideth will bring along an object and stories from his own family history. Gabriel, who holds master's degrees in both art history and archaeology, will turn his trained eye on a product label from his great-grandparents' Amoy soy sauce factory in Xiamen in the early 20th century. The company is today's Amoy Foods. That label comes with many family stories from this iconic company from the early days of the modern Chinese business world.

I (Robert Martin) will be standing in for our second speaker this session and will bring along one of the many things that clutter my house. This time will be a Meiji Era kanban (看板) or Japanese shop sign. We will study this sign that once graced the entrance to a calligraphy brush shop, and also look at other examples of traditional Japanese signs. We will also study and compare some of the elegant Chinese shop signs of the era.

Beverages and light snacks will be served. Entry for members and friends is rmb100. Non-members is rmb200.