holder; coin; hell money BM-As1991-03.1.a-c

Period:Unknown Production date:1869-1884
Materials:leather, paper, rattan (?), bamboo (?),
Technique:sewn, painted,
Subjects:flower bird
Dimensions:Diameter: 3 centimetres (part c (each coin)) Height: 16 centimetres (part a bamboo holder) Height: 8 centimetres (part b leather coin holder) Height: 0.10 centimetres (part c (each coin)) Weight: 16 grammes (part a bamboo holder) Weight: 29 grammes (part b leather coin holder) Weight: 1 grammes (part c (each coin)) Width: 12 centimetres (part a bamboo holder) Width: 8 centimetres (part b leather coin holder) Depth: 8 centimetres (part a bamboo holder) Depth: 4 centimetres (part b leather coin holder)

Description:
Holder (with container full of coins); a) holder made of rattan or bamboo?; three rows of curled rattan or bamboo? attached together vertically, with rim attached at top and bottom to make cylinder; b) container made of leather; base piece of leather cut in shape of 8; two cylinders of leather with folded piece of leather between sewn to base; sides of cylinders cut with floral design; loop of leather at top between cylinders; c) set of twenty-eight coins (“hell money”) made of paper; circular piece of paper painted silver; each coin shows bird on one side, triangle with rays extending outwards on opposite side.
IMG


Comments:Coins such as these are burnt on the graves of their ancestors by Chinese people. Other examples of Hell Money are held in the Department of Coins and Medals, also in the Asian ethnographic collections: collection numbers As1989,04 and As2002,07 Openwork rattan part may be a cuff as worn during hot weather in Korea. See As1960,10.441.a-b