Cabbage and Beetle

mid-1700s

China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong reign (1736–95) or earlier

Medium

carved wood

Measurements

Overall: 13.9 cm (5 1/2 in.)
Weight: 0.12 kg

Credit Line

Sundry Purchase Fund 1966.376

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Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

Cord binds the cabbage loosely at the middle and goes through carved coins before ending in tassels.

Description

In the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), luxury items became more affordable to larger parts of the society, including women, merchants, and literati in non-official positions. Imperial patronage and a growing urban population encouraged consumption of luxury goods and local craftmanship.

A superbly skilled carver created this small decorative object, reflecting scholarly taste of the period. This cabbage on a gnarled rock was carved from single piece of wood. There are openings between the stems, holes in leaves, and the rock it rests on. A beetle perches on one leaf which curves over the binding cord. The beetle was painted dark brown, while the cabbage and rock were finished overall with lighter tone.