Out with the old, in with the new

ACCORDING TO LEGEND, THE ANIMALS of the Chinese zodiac had a race across a great river. The snake, while not the best swimmer, made use of its wits and smarts by hitching a ride on the horse’s hoof. Before the latter crossed the finish line, the snake leapt out, scared its mount, and slithered forward into sixth place.

To celebrate this mysterious, fascinating – and sometimes sneaky – creature in home decor without resorting to kitsch, the trick is to choose sophisticated patterns or forms that suggest its namesake. The Year of the Snake is believed to bring abundance and prosperity so in this list, we also highlight other elements and symbols for good luck, furniture that adds both functionality and style to the home during gatherings and pieces celebrating the essence of traditional Chinese culture, but with a twist.

Serpentine pendant

Stockholm studio Front’s Serpentine suspension light for Moooi was sparked by experiments with twisting paper. The resulting multiple “S” shapes create the illusion of movement of its namesake creature. It is made of translucent fabric twisted into cones and outlined in a dark colour, giving the illusion of a constant upward motion. One can also glean from the composition a bunching of paper hats. Available from Space Furniture. Price: S$1,080

Mandarin storage unit

Designed by Italian architect and designer Piero Lissoni, Mandarin is a series of glass chests of drawers with a modern structure in translucent coloured laminated glass. The base and drawers in naturally darkened solid ash appear to float, thanks to “invisible” drawer runners made from glass strips glued to the structure’s sides. It is an ideal piece to display your New Year decor with a touch of class. Available from Space Furniture. Price: S$9,870

Array sofa

Array sofa is a modular seating system designed by Norwegian architectural practice Snohetta for MDF Italia. Slim, interconnected modules allow for endless unique compositions, including a snaking option that can dramatically alter the interaction of users in a space. The design also had an environmental aim – to achieve customised living solutions while simplifying logistics so it can be easy to disassemble and reassemble for replacement, or recycling – hence the small modules. Available at P5. Price: From S$13,200

Ma-Rock lamp

Designed by Catalan designer Jaime Hayon, classic Moroccan lanterns inspired the Ma-Rock series of lamps produced by Parachilna. It also evokes the silhouette of traditional Chinese lanterns. Comprising an octagonal steel structure, it has holes that throw interesting shadows onto surfaces. Available in white and gold from Xtra. Price: S$3,720 to S$9,450

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Victoria-Maria Geyer snake fabric 

Victoria-Maria Geyer is a Belgian decorator who has created a snake-themed collection for Pierre Frey. She was fascinated by the creature’s innate femininity and mystical aura that has made it the protagonist of many collections in the world of fashion and jewellery. Her collection for Pierre Frey has two designs. One, made up of three snakes embroidered on thick linen canvas, captures the spirit of 18th-century engraved animal planks. The second is made up of ouroboros – an Egyptian symbol of snakes biting their tails. Price: On request

Pawn stool

Designed by Belgian designer Marie Michielssen for Serax, the Pawn series features occasional furniture that can be used as a side table or stool depending on need. The stoneware pieces have a glazed finish that is reminiscent of Chinese lacquerware. Michielssen is an in-house designer for Serax and often uses leftover materials for her prototypes that lead to interesting new projects. Available at serax.com. Price: Around S$422

Hayama cabinet

Patricia Urquiola’s Hayama cabinet for Cassina is perfect for holding teaware, drinkware and snacks for Chinese New Year gatherings. The traditional Japanese haori jacket that is worn over a kimono inspired the series, whose lacquered surface, minimal lines and oblique legs are subtle yet glamorous. The interior is lit by LED lights, making it easy to find what you need. Available at W Atelier. Price: S$27,130

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Liberating architecture

Fold 01. Petite Ceramics

Based in London and Guangzhou, artist Liu Xuezhi studied in the prestigious Central Saint Martins. She uses ceramics as a mode of expression. The result is the Fold 01. Petite series that draws inspiration from fashion tailoring by using dress templates to create objects in paper clay (a mixture of clay and cellulose fibres). These dainty receptacles are perfect for holding Chinese New Year goodies. Available at art resource website The Artling. Price: S$250

Ming’s Heart armchair

The Ming chair is probably the most iconic piece of traditional Chinese furniture, produced during the golden age of Chinese craft and culture. It has inspired many interpretations, including Lu Shi-Chieh’s Ming’s Heart for Italian manufacturer Poltrona Frau. A structure of steel tubes, matched with a seat and backing made from a single piece of thin steel sheet and wrapped in Saddle Extra leather, gives the effect of a seat floating in space. Available at Proof Living. Price: S$9,800

Issho lazy Susan dining table

Meal times are at the heart of every Chinese New Year gathering. The round table, symbolising reunion, dissolves hierarchy and fosters dialogue. The Issho lazy Susan table from King Living is a modern version of the traditional ubiquitous lazy Susan banquet table at Chinese restaurants and homes. It conceals a self-cleaning channel to prevent the build-up of crumbs or liquids, and features a lazy Susan made with Nero Marquina marble from Northern Spain. Price: From S$5,112