Welcome to springbird.nl

I’m so happy that since I moved to Shanghai, I collected my art works and made a selection to present it on my website.
This blog I will use mainly to show things or situations in everyday life that inspire me.
Since everything is so different from life in Holland, there’s a lot to show and tell.
During the last few months I have built up a collection of quite some awkward, funny and beautiful Chinese objects and people.

I thought it would be nice to start my blog with some birds!
These picture were made… at Dong Tai Lu Antique shopping. This tiny street is home to a large number of sellers of antique and (mostly) non-antique curiosa, like Mao-statues, watches, affiches, jewellery boxes, coins… too much to handle.

It’s fun strolling around and a feast for the eyes.
Some of the owners bring their birds with them. Like taking your dog out with you when you go for work or shopping. These birds are not for sale though!
Not only the birds, but also the cages are just beautiful (watch the pretty loop to hang the cage), and the tiny porcelain feeding dishes…

Retired people usually buy birds to take care of, and they take them outside every day to sing with each other. They show off and compete with neighbors to see whose bird sings the best.
If you wish to buy birds, then one of Shanghai’s Flower and Bird markets is the place to go (this will certainly be the subject of one of my coming posts!)