On the Mantelpiece: The Room's Focal Point

A close-up of the display on a fireplace mantelpiece. The mantelpiece is marble or white-painted wood, about fifteen centimeters deep. The items on it have accumulated over many years: an old mirror or a painting stands against the wall in the center, with a candlestick symmetrically placed on each side; smaller objects are scattered between the candlesticks—a few unframed invitation cards and postcards leaning against the mirror frame, a small porcelain box, a bowl holding various items, a clock, a few collected stones. The larger objects are roughly symmetrical, while the smaller ones are completely random. Inside the firebox are burnt wood ashes and a stack of logs. Avoid: arranging everything in strict symmetry, using matching decorative sets, clearing the mantelpiece to leave only two items, adding modern minimalist ornaments.

Translated from Chinese by AI.

一座壁爐上方檯面的陳列近景。壁爐架是大理石或漆成白色的木質,檯面約十五公分深。上面的東西是長年累積的:正中央靠牆立著一面舊鏡或一幅畫,兩側對稱地各放一只燭台;燭台之間散放著較小的物件——幾張沒有裱框的邀請卡與明信片斜靠在鏡框上、一個瓷器小盒、一只裝著雜物的碗、一個時鐘、幾顆撿來的石頭。大的物件大致對稱,小的完全隨意。爐膛內是燒過的木灰與一疊柴。避免:把所有東西排成嚴格對稱、使用成套的裝飾組合、把檯面清空只留兩件、加入現代簡約的擺件。