Description:
A double porcelain snuff bottle depicting crickets; has base. Silver stopper; bronze (or gold?) spoons. Cylindrical: blue meander and ? decoration around collar. Triangular band around base; monogram on base. Four insects (two differing).

Label Text:
This double snuff bottle is remarkable for its exquisite shape, as well as its intricately painted crickets. Keeping crickets as pets emerged in Tang dynasty (618-906 CE) China and various associated pastimes developed, such as cricket fighting and associated gambling. The selecting and breeding of crickets reached its height during the Qing dynasty, eventually spreading beyond the elite to other classes.

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=MH+1986.33.325

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