The Great White Part 1: Pearly Pastimes Quiz

Answer: Bonseki

Bonseki is the art of creating miniature landscapes on a basis of white sand, adding pebbles and small rocks. The technique was originally used as a tool for planning real gardens, but became an art form of its own. Bonseki is meant to be temporary even in the best of cases and the lifespan of your magnum opus might be inversely proportional to the number of felines in the home.

Question submitted by WesleyCrusher.

Answer: Jacobean embroidery dating from the 17th century

Whitework embroidery first appeared in India and China. Hardanger embroidery is believed to have originated in Persia and spread first to Italy and later to Northern Europe, particularly Norway. Ayrshire whitework evolved from the Hardanger technique. Mountmellick embroidery developed in Ireland. Traditional foundations included linen and fine cotton. Some of the best-known whitework stitches are eyelets, granitos and the padded satin stitch.

Jacobean embroidery refers to a brightly coloured crewel embroidery with animal and floral motifs prevalent in the 17th century.

Question submitted by pitegny.

Answer: Macramé

Macramé is a textile produced using knotting (rather than weaving or knitting) techniques. It is believed that Macramé comes from a 13th century Arabic weavers' word "migramah" meaning "fringe". The fringe referred to was the decorative fringes on camels and horses which helped to keep the flies away. This craft was very popular in the 1970s when hanging pot holders and wall hangings were made. There has been a resurgence of this craft today with multi coloured cords and sparkly jewels to add to the effect.

Question submitted by em1958

Answer: Attic

In the game Cluedo, six suspects with colourful names try to solve the murder of Dr. Black (UK version - in the North-American editions replaced by Mr. Boddy): who did it, in which room and with what implement? Mrs. White (the white pawn) is one of those suspects, and she starts next to the kitchen in the upper left hand corner. The other rooms are (clockwise from the kitchen) the ballroom, the conservatory, the billiard room, the library, the study, the hall, the lounge and the dining room. Central on the board is the staircase or the cellar (in one edition the swimming pool), where the victim is found and where the correct solution is hidden. Alas, there's no room for an attic.

Question submitted by JanIQ.

Answer: Milk glass

The techniques needed to produce opaque 'milk glass' were first developed in the 16th century in the Italian city of Venice, a place that remains famous for glassmaking in the 21st century. The results were originally known as opal glass, while the term 'milk glass' became popular in the Victorian period. The opaque nature of the glass - created by introducing particles of other substances that change the way light passes through it - means pieces such as vases, plates and bowls can easily be mistaken for porcelain.

Not all milk glass is actually white and other popular colours include black, blue, pink and yellow.

Question submitted by Fifiona81.

Answer: Sirene

Sirene is a crumbly brine cheese popular in the Balkan Region of Europe. It is very versatile and is an ingredient in a wide variety of dishes including salads, desserts and soups.

Mozzarella is a semisoft cheese that originated in Southern Italy. It is most famously used on pizzas. Ricotta is a creamy Italian cheese made from whey that has been recooked. Mascarpone is also a soft Italian cheese. It can be considered the Italian equivalent of cream cheese and is used primarily in desserts.

Question submitted by Joepetz.

Answer: China

Dehua porcelain is better known "Blanc de Chine", a French term which translates to 'White from China'. It is named after Dehua, the county in the Fujian province of China where it is made. Production first started during the time the country was ruled by the Ming Dynasty in the 14th century. It was only in the 18th century that this porcelain was exported to Europe. Dehua porcelain contains minor traces of iron oxide which yields an ivory or milky white colour to the object formed using it.

Question submitted by zorba_scank.

Answer: Red wines are fermented with the grape skins, white wines are fermented without them

Although red wines are generally made from red or black grapes and white wines are generally made from white grapes, the main difference is that red wines use the skin where as white wines don't. The colour is leached from the skins to create the resulting colour in the wine. White wines are usually fermented in stainless steel tanks, keeping them light in flavour. Red wines are generally aged in oak barrels which, due to the exposure to oxygen, deepens the flavour and removes some of the floral and citrus tones from the wine.

Question submitted by Lones78.

Answer: bobbin lace

Bobbin lace is a lace textile made by braiding and twisting lengths of thread, which are wound on bobbins to manage them. Later the weaving is held in place with pins set in a lace pillow. The placement of pins determines the pattern. Bobbin lace is one of the two major categories of handmade laces, the other is needle lace.

Question supplied by em1958

Answer: The first Pearly King

Henry Croft was a London street-sweeper who raised money to help finance local hospitals while working. To attract attention he sewed Mother-of-Pearl buttons all over his clothes. It is believed that this inspired the coster-mongers (street traders) of London to adopt the practice, and soon several Pearly Kings and Queens societies were formed in London. When dressed in their finery, which involves a great deal of planning and stitching (and a fortune in pearly buttons!) the Pearly Kings and Queens make a stunning sight.

Question supplied by windrush