This ostrich-feather adorned hat inspired the one that was given to Blossom in the novel. It’s authentic to the time period and was found intact in an antique store in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., just steps away from the world-famous mission.

Always full of rice, this bowl inspired the section of Blossom in which Grand Ma Ma describes China’s legendary Mt. Penglai … the land of the Eight Immortals. It was a place where there was no pain and no winter. Jewels grew on trees. And rice bowls never emptied … no matter how much people ate from them. This bowl, as described in Blossom, reminds all restaurant visitors to be grateful for what they have.

These mahjong tiles are similar to the ones Grand Ma Ma played with, along with her three best lady friends, during their on-demand gossip sessions.

Ting Ting’s “hurdy-gurdy” music box resembles this hand-crank version that was found in a gift shop in Newport Beach, Calif. It plays that all-too-familiar circus theme song, “Entrance of the Gladiators.” However, it does so in a somewhat haunting way, just as it does in Blossom.

This cameo not only illustrates a blossoming rose, but it symbolized the journey that the heroine, Blossom, takes in the story. It’s called a “Three Stages of Love” cameo. It was carved from a conch shell and came from Naples, Italy.