Double Gourd Shan Shui Cricket Cage

c. 1900
$680 USD SOLD
Dimensions
W: 4.5" D: 2.75" H: 2.75"
Materials
Wood
Bone
Natural Material
Collection #
CHIW003A
Estimated Shipping
$25

The practice of keeping crickets as pets began in China as early as the Tang dynasty (618-907). Appreciated for their chirping "songs," crickets were caught at the end of summer and kept in ornate cages throughout the winter, often placed bedside. The slender form of this small cricket cage indicates it was designed to be portable, carried around in a pocket or strung on a waistband. The original hardwood lid dates to the early 20th century and is perforated with round holes lined in bone for airflow. Comprised of dried gourd, the body of the cage is impressed with a painterly "shan shui" landscape and molded to a double gourd shape, a symbol of luck and prosperity.

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Elizabeth Krueger | Elizabeth Krueger Design

“PAGODA RED was extremely supportive in helping to pull accessory options together for the Lake Forest Showhouse. After providing them with details and our vision on how we were looking to finish our space, Laurene helped curate options that made it easy for us to edit and finalize. It's also no surprise that the unique pieces we used in our showhouse space were some of the first to sell.”

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