![Cabinet of Curiosities, Chinese Display Shelves](http://www.shimu.co.uk/cdn/shop/articles/cabinet-curiosities_bf554779-6ab0-4ca3-8fcc-c8d38ddb0c4e_526x@2x.progressive.jpg?v=1738925996)
Latest News
![Cabinet of Curiosities, Chinese Display Shelves](http://www.shimu.co.uk/cdn/shop/articles/cabinet-curiosities_bf554779-6ab0-4ca3-8fcc-c8d38ddb0c4e_526x@2x.progressive.jpg?v=1738925996)
![Cabinet of Curiosities, Chinese Display Shelves](http://www.shimu.co.uk/cdn/shop/articles/cabinet-curiosities_bf554779-6ab0-4ca3-8fcc-c8d38ddb0c4e_350x.jpg?v=1738925996)
Cabinet of Curiosities – How to Display a Treasured Collection
![Chinese New Year 2025: The Year Of the Snake](http://www.shimu.co.uk/cdn/shop/articles/year_of_the_snake-3_47beca8b-2ead-46c1-b879-0fa8bceb5b69_350x.png?v=1738082799)
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...
![The History of Chinese Tea Ceremonies](http://www.shimu.co.uk/cdn/shop/articles/chinese-tea-ceremony_520x500_520x500_927c6c70-f6d1-4f87-9e8d-2854a49a8d98_350x.jpg?v=1736789510)
The History of Chinese Tea Ceremonies
The history of Chinese tea ceremonies reflects cultural evolution, societal values, and technological advancements. Dating back over 4,000 years, tea in China began as a medicinal herb and later became a significant part of its spiritual, artistic, and social traditions....
![Why we won't be offering a Black Friday sale](http://www.shimu.co.uk/cdn/shop/articles/SHIMU_SHOP_350x.jpg?v=1732806692)
Why we won't be offering a Black Friday sale
With Christmas fast approaching and big brands gearing up for Black Friday sales, it's easy to be drawn into the frenzy of big discounts and mass consumption. At Shimu we prefer to step back from this recent retail 'tradition' through our ongoing commitment to...
![Chinese antique furniture - Silk Road](http://www.shimu.co.uk/cdn/shop/articles/ACW-BH-2205174-Set4_1200x.progressive_560d5282-a7c1-4be6-8e6d-04fad7460586_350x.webp?v=1731063367)
Silk Roads – British Museum’s Latest Exhibition Unwraps the History of this Ancient Trade Route
Silk Roads, the British Museum’s latest major exhibition, opened last month and showcases a wealth of dazzling objects from the length of the ancient trading network. The carefully chosen selection of artefacts includes everything from beautiful Tang Chinese ceramics, to...
![Antique Chinese Altar Tables](http://www.shimu.co.uk/cdn/shop/articles/ATC-BH-2205178-Altar-Table_350x.jpg?v=1728054272)
Antique Chinese Altar Tables, Shrines and Ancestor Worship: Bridging the Past and Present
Antique Chinese altar tables, shrines and ancestor portraits are unique artefacts from China’s history, which once held significant roles in traditional Chinese homes and which are now finding their place in contemporary interiors. Historical Significance and Traditional Uses In ancient...
![Square Routes: A Fascinating look at Chinese Official Rank Badges](http://www.shimu.co.uk/cdn/shop/articles/Rank_Badges_350x.jpg?v=1726231760)
Square Routes: A Fascinating look at Chinese Official Rank Badges
Looking at the many squares of embroidered silk hanging in the Shimu showroom or on our website, few would realise the fascinating meaning and history behind them. Beginning in the 14th century during the Chinese Ming dynasty and Europe’s Middle...
![Chinese Lacquered Furniture](http://www.shimu.co.uk/cdn/shop/articles/Lacquered-Furniture_350x.jpg?v=1723543557)
Time-Honoured Elegance: Exploring the Rich History of Chinese Lacquered Furniture
The chances are that when you think of Chinese furniture, you think of richly decorated pieces with a lustrous, glossy surface finish. This shiny coating is, in fact, lacquer; a hard coating which is applied to wood to give a...
![When Chinese Furniture Takes Centre Stage in Film and Television](http://www.shimu.co.uk/cdn/shop/articles/Film-Furniture_350x.jpg?v=1719237289)
When Chinese Furniture Takes Centre Stage in Film and Television
Here at Shimu we are one of the UK’s leading suppliers of original antique Chinese furniture and as appreciators of all-things oriental, we love to see furniture from China used in film and TV. With this in mind, we thought...