daigou]]> daigou painted black with decorative patterning in red. In the form of bird with a semi-circular body and a long hooked neck. Convex obverse of body presents geometric pattern; sides of body exhibit keyhole pattern. Head exhibits small red-painted eyes and a broad grooved mouth. From Xiongnu culture.]]> qihe (lacquer box). Exterior presents elaborate relief-carved botanical pattern in dark green lacquer. Interior exhibits gilt-lacquered segmented lobe pattern.]]> (1) One cream-yellow bone disc. Large circular central hole. Obverse presents four Chinese characters 一去千裡 (once gone a thousand miles).
(2) One cream-yellow bone disc. Small circular central hole. Obverse presents five Chinese characters 山中高士 (talented scholar in the mountains).]]> ji guan]]> ji guan (Chinese court official's hat) insignia. Comprises a transparent glass sphere threaded between a three tier base and double tier cap of gilt metal lotus-like leaf-shaped scrolls embellished with trefoil beads.]]> tsuba]]> tsuba. Japanese origin. One face presents moulded designs in the form of two horned figures in a landscape with waterfalls and bamboo. The other face exhibits moulded designs of waterfalls and bamboo only. Patches of gold inlay are visible on both faces.]]>
(1) glazed yellow brown and green ceramic in a pattern of discs and dots.

(2) glazed yellow tan brown and light blue ceramic in a pattern of discs and geometric shapes. Cylindrical with a relatively large axial piercing.

(3) glazed yellow brown and green ceramic in a pattern of discs and dots. Cylindrical with a relatively large axial piercing.

(4) glazed red-brown tan and pale green ceramic. Spherical with a small piercing visible on one side.

(5) dark grey stone with white vein. In the form of a flattened sphere.]]> taotie pattern moulded in relief.]]>
One approximately rectangular yellow-brown bone fragment. Burnished obverse presents incised inscriptions. Shape of object (resembling turtle plastron or ox scapula) in conjunction with presence of inscriptions on burnished obverse supports its interpretation as an oracle bone used in divination rituals.]]> ruyi patterns in blue red and yellow cloisonné enamel.]]> gu. Exhibits green patina and metallic red-brown flecks. Elongated cylindrical body flaring outwards from waist. Upper rim is approximately twice as wide as the lower. Raised band encircles the waist bounded above by one raised ring and below by two raised rings. Small hole between two lower rings.]]> yuan or one thousand wen); (left) 永遠通行 (circulating in perpetuity); (right) 大明寳鈔 (Great Ming currency); (bottom) 戶部 / 奏准印造 / 大明寳鈔與銅錢通行 / 使用僞造者斬告捕 / 者賞銀貳百伍拾兩 / 仍給犯人財產 / 洪武年月日 (The Imperial Board of Revenue having memorialised the Throne has received the Imperial sanction for the issue of Government notes of the Ming Empire to circulate on the same footing as standard cash. To counterfeit is death. The informant will receive 250 Taels of silver and in addition the entire property of the criminal). The Hongwu era of the reign of Emperor Taizu (1368-1398 AD).]]> (Chinese Tea Corporation. Made in the Zhao-Li-Qiao Brick-tea Factory).]]> bai shou or 'Hundred Animals') theme.]]> sui]]> sui. Yellow-brown vein. Obverse presents two incised characters.]]> luopan contained within a lacquered box. Upper part of front face contains a rectangular grid populated by Chinese characters in black and red pigment. Lower part of front face presents a minutely divided radial array occupied by Chinese characters in black and red pigment surrounding a central compass needle inset under glass. Underside of lacquer case exhibits gold-pigmented decoration comprising a rectangular border within which are contained the Chinese characters 皖休萬安街 老吳魯衡涵記製 (Anhui Province Wan-an street made by Wu Luheng).]]> Gifted to Canterbury Museum by Alley in 1937 during a visit to New Zealand. In 1956, loaned to the Rewi Alley Chinese Art and Crafts Exhibition, held at the Provincial Council Chambers, Christchurch. ]]> cavo-rilievo designs. On one side the juxtaposition of a leaf a lotus blossom and a figure riding a fish echoes traditional Chinese symbolism for good fortune in the New Year.]]> bi]]> bi. Four equidistantly-spaced projecting lugs on outer circumference. Medium-sized circular central hole.]]> gui]]> gui. Brown-flecked vein. Hole at the top. Upper third of body exhibits three incised lines; upper line intersects hole.]]> shu fang zhai) referring to the palace constructed in the 1420s.]]> k'un (earth) in gold pigment bounded by a gold circle. Reverse presents stamped illustration of the Eighteen Luohan (personal disciples of the Buddha). Tablet exhibits vertical fracture. Obverse right edge presents four Chinese characters.]]> Tai Su Zhai or Taisu study) bordered by gold dragon motifs.]]> ]]> Small ornamental table screen in form of jade tablet, featuring finely (carved) inscribed script (obverse) and dragon design (reverse). Commemorates first woman who had silk worms in China by discovering use of mulberry leaves. Obverse:
御題蠶織圖 (The Emperor’s Inscription to Pictures of Silkworm Weaving).

One dark brown tablet holder roughly assembled from several carved wood components. Exhibits simple ruyi patterning and scroll work.]]>