Cricket Cage

The smoothly rounded, highly polished gourd is undecorated. At the rim is a simple ivory ring. Another ivory ring forms the exterior portion of the lid. Inset within the lid is a reticulated tortoise shell carving of a coiled dragon. A pearl, apparently a genuine example, is inset into the tortoise shell. At the bottom of the central portion of the tortoise shell is a fine geometric screen.

a=gourd; b=ivory, wood and pearl lid; c= silk pouch with gold and blue embroidered trellis pattern. There is no silk liner or drawstring in this pouch.

Historical period(s)
Qing dynasty, 19th century
Medium
Gourd, ivory, tortoise shell, pearl
Dimensions
H x W: 12.5 x 6.5 cm (4 15/16 x 2 9/16 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1984.38.7a-c
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Container
Type

Cricket cage

Keywords
China, cricket, dragon, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), Robert Hatfield Ellsworth collection
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

The smoothly rounded, highly polished gourd is undecorated. At the rim is a simple ivory ring. Another ivory ring forms the exterior portion of the lid. Inset within the lid is a reticulated tortoise shell carving of a coiled dragon. A pearl, apparently a genuine example, is inset into the tortoise shell. At the bottom of the central portion of the tortoise shell is a fine geometric screen.

a=gourd; b=ivory, wood and pearl lid; c= silk pouch with gold and blue embroidered trellis pattern. There is no silk liner or drawstring in this pouch.

Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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