cage BM-2011-3003.2

Period:Qing dynasty Production date:19thC
Materials:gourd, ivory, steel,
Technique:moulded, pierced,

Dimensions:Diameter: 7.40 centimetres Height: 9.20 centimetres

Description:
Cricket cage made from gourd, moulded with rock and flowers, with an ivory rim. There is a steel coil fitted to the interior of the cage. Separate ivory cover with seven pierced roundels.
IMG


Comments:This cricket cage was collected by Richard Samuel CMG CVO who bought them in 1970 in Tianjin in China when he was stationed there as no. 2 in the Office of the British Chargé d’Affaires. During the Cultural Revolution when these were purchased by Mr Samuels the keeping of pets of any kind was strictly prohibited. However cricket keeping in China dates back at least to the Tang dynasty. Crickets are regarded as fine pets because of their attractive “song” but were also kept for their fighting ability.A similar cricket cage is in the Suzhou Museum, Zhejiang province, China