The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of December 19, 2025
Toad
386–534 CE
(317-581), Northern Wei dynasty (386-534)
Overall: 5 cm (1 15/16 in.)
Location: Not on view
Description
In China, access to political power was granted to those who passed the civil service examinations, a system that offered official service only at a high level of education. Chinese literati-officials whose daily routine was administrative work in an office, enjoyed precious objects on their writing desks that offered distraction and demonstrated good taste. By the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, these utensils of the literati studio became also collectibles and were treasured as artworks.Desk objects included paper weights, like this bronze frog, seals, seal paste boxes, brush rests, wrist rests, brush holders, water droppers, ink cakes, miniature mountains, and albums, all ranging in material from jade, gilt bronze, lacquer, and wood to porcelain.
- (Howard Hollis [1899–1985], Cleveland, OH, to Herbert F. Leisy)?–1977Herbert F. Leisy [1900–1977], Cleveland Heights, OH, gift to the Cleveland Museum of Art1977–The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
- China through the Magnifying Glass: Masterpieces in Miniature and Detail. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 11, 2022-February 26, 2023).
- {{cite web|title=Toad|url=false|author=|year=386–534 CE|access-date=19 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1977.208