Cricket Cage

Object Details

• Description

  The exterior of this gourd is elaborately carved with a variety of designs. Immediately beneath the plain ivory rim is a band of stylized cloud collar, enclosed below by a horizontal band of fret motifs. The remainder of the surface is covered with hexagons and representations of the Eight Daoist Immortals: Li Tieguai, Zhongli Quan, Lan Caihe, Zhangguo Lao, He Xiangu, Lu Dongbin, Han Xiangzi, and Cao Guojiu.

  The lid is formed by a plain ivory rim within which is set a carved wooden representation of a pair of large leonine creatures encircled by smaller animals of this type. Inset into the bottom of the wooden section is a semi-circular dome of darker wood with a reticulated design. The eyes and tongues of the leonine creatures are inset in a darker wood.

• Marks

  Within a square cartouche on the base are carved the four characters: Qianlong yuwan. This cannot be taken as an accurate date.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• 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

  Cats, Art, Lu Dongbin, Chinese Art, Robert Hatfield Ellsworth collection, Immortal Woman He, Lan Caihe, Cricket, Animals, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), Zhongli Quan, Royal Uncle Cao, Philosopher Han Xiang, Li Tieguai

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Containers