Chinese carved wooden figures

Content Description

62 small, carved wooden figures. Bought in a Sicaway convent in Shanghai. Supposedly represents a study of life before the Communists came to power. Made of tea wood. Between 2 and 3 inches tall. Of home life, farming, pastimes, and small business. Apparently they were carved "by a man who was deaf and dumb and came from Ningpo and who won prizes at world's fairs in many places for his carvings". List of different carvings are as follows: Transportation: Sampan, Sudan chair, Coffin borne by two men, Ricksha, Another form of sampan, One wheeled cart, Water buffalo (light), Water buffalo (dark), Fishing boat with black cormorants. Home customs and ceremonies: Doctor, Public scribe, Box making, Home worship, Home cooking and eating, Home designing, Butcher shop, seven figures on spinning, dyeing, carding, weaving, others are hard to decide what they represent. Farming: Seven are thrashing and winnowing, Plowing, hoeing, harrowing, driving geese. Shop keepers: Bakery, Butcher shop, Laundry, Wood gatherers, Fishing, Musicians and others. Penalties: Head in wooden boards-stocks. Pastimes and Amusements: Smoking opium, Flying kite, Weight lifting, Snake charming, Public announcer, Sooth sayer, Tea carrier, and others unknown.

Acquisition Type

Gift

Restrictions Apply

No