Pictorial Charm Item Number: Edz4161 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. Two Chinese characters in seal-script on face, and a design on reverse that depicts a mythical animal (bull?) below, with another design element above.
History Of Use
Design similar to a coin, but too large to circulate; not from the period it purports to be from. (Larson, David) Archaic coins were often attributed to have magical power, embodying essence from the remote past. Its modelling after the Han coin and the addition of devine iconography, almost certainly point to a Daoist association. This charm may have been used in rituals or as an amulet. (Li, Min)
Iconographic Meaning
Image of a deity on the reverse, holding a flag and a sword. It probably represents Taishang Liaojun (Lao-tzu) or the Thunder God, powerful figures in the Daoist pantheon. At the bottom was an image of a tiger. (Li, Min)
Item History
- Made in China between 1368 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
- Edz4161
- Type of Item
- charm
- Material
- brass metal
- Manufacturing Technique
- cast and filed
- Overall
- height 0.3 cm, diameter 5.0 cm, weight 0.715 oz
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 1368 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
- poor
- Accession Number
- 0042/0073 sssss