Cricket Cage

Object Details

• Description

  Molded into the surface of this gourd is a design of pine trees and cranes, both traditional symbols of longevity (and a long and happy marriage), in China. An ivory foot and lid enframes both ends of the gourd. A plain ivory rim enframes the reticulated tortoise shell section of the lid. The carved decoration of the raised section of the tortoise shell is based on plum blossoms. A flat layer of tortoise shell is pierced by geometric designs.

  a=gourd; b=ivory and wood lid; c= silk pouch with black, yellow, lavender and aqua embroidered trellis design. There is no lining with this pouch.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  On Becoming Immortal (May 9, 1993 to August 15, 1994)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Container

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1800s, 1890s

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Pine tree, Cricket, Art, Chinese Art, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), Robert Hatfield Ellsworth collection

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Containers