Cricket Bed (Translation)
象牙蟋蟀过笼 (Primary Title)
Unknown (Artist)
As early as the Tang dynasty (618-907), crickets were kept as pets by China’s imperial families, court officials, and commoners, enamored with the tiny insects’ singing and fighting abilities. Centuries later as the pastime became more popular, demand increased for cricket cages, “beds,” feeding vessels, and other accessories, examples of which are included in this group. Enclosures, in particular those made from gourds, were quite fashionable and produced in unique shapes with ivory, porcelain, and enamel components.
Qing dynasty (1644-1911)
None
Gift of John C. Maxwell, Jr. and Adrienne L. Maxwell
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.
