Pictorial Charm Item Number: Edz4177 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Round charm with a four-sided hole at the centre, and a rim around the outer edge and centre hole. The face has four Chinese characters, and the reverse has a design of a dragon, phoenix (or two dragons) and a flaming pearl.
History Of Use
Design similar to a coin, but too large to circulate; not from the period it purports to be from. (Li, Min)
Iconographic Meaning
The representations of a dragon and a phoenix or a "double dragon" chasing a flaming pearl are common auspicious images in any context in ancient China. They were not restricted to any particular class. (Li, Min)
Item History
- Made in China between 1506 and 1911
- Collected between 1893 and 1911
- Owned by Colin Campbell Brown
- Owned by Hugh Campbell Brown before February 1, 1961
- Received from Hugh Campbell Brown (Donor) on February 1, 1961
What
- Name
- Pictorial Charm
- Identification Number
- Edz4177
- Type of Item
- charm
- Material
- brass metal
- Manufacturing Technique
- cast and filed
- Overall
- height 0.4 cm, diameter 5.8 cm, weight 62.2 g
Who
- Culture
- Chinese
- Previous Owner
- Colin Campbell Brown and Hugh Campbell Brown
- Received from
- Hugh Campbell Brown (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- China
When
- Creation Date
- between 1506 and 1911
- Collection Date
- between 1893 and 1911
- Ownership Date
- before February 1, 1961
- Acquisition Date
- on February 1, 1961
Other
- Item Classes
- metalwork
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 0042/0038 ff