Like most first and second generation Chinese living in the Delta, my grandparents and parents owned consecutive small grocery stores from the 1940-80’s. This pair of cast iron ice tongs came from Silver Star located on Mitchell Rd, in Memphis, TN. A block of ice would slide down a chute and the ice tongs were used to pick it up. Ice was sold to people who were working outside in the heat to keep their food cold. The center square is made from a continuous cloth roller towel that was leftover from my grandparent’s last grocery store, Great Ocean that I stained with coffee and tea, oiled, then hand embroidered. The striped border is made with a tablecloth from Chop Sticks, along with other house linens.

2023

25” x 25” x 11”

NFS