Inviting Furry Servants

A home cushion collection that channels the spirit of Song dynasty courtyard living into contemporary interiors. The set includes table mats, floor cushions, and other sizes, each piece evoking the quiet elegance of a classical Chinese garden brought indoors.
In the Song dynasty, scholars and literati affectionately referred to cats as "furry servants." Acquiring a cat was no casual act; it involved a formal courtship ritual, with salt and tea offered as symbolic betrothal gifts, a practice known as "inviting the li nu." More than a mere adoption, it represented an idealized way of life, one marked by the gentle companionship of small creatures, unhurried rhythms, and days steeped in tranquility.
The imagery draws from the celebrated classical painting Cat and Butterfly. The design reinterprets the motif with a contemporary lightness: the feline element remains, but the focus shifts to everyday leisure and the quiet comfort of home, resonating with today's yearning for a slower pace of life.
The base color echoes the warm, time-worn patina of Song dynasty silk scrolls, overlaid with a fine, repeating geometric pattern that adds subtle texture without overwhelming the composition. The result is a piece that transcends style boundaries, harmonizing with neo-Chinese and raw wood aesthetics, while sitting comfortably alongside light French, classic French, and other interior sensibilities. Each cushion reads like an ancient scroll painting, unfurled horizontally across the floor or table, an art piece for the home, made to be lived with.