Cantonese Opera Bag Item Number: N1.885 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Unbleached cotton bag. Top has cuff with string running through. Characters on side in blue ink. Colour: off-white.
History Of Use
The ritual short play “Eight Fairies Present Birthday Congratulations”, “Baak Sin Hoh Sauh” required special materials. This bag was used to hold a spceial curtain.
Specific Techniques
machine sewn
Cultural Context
theatre
Narrative
A large group of Cantonese opera costumes, musical instruments, props, trunks, and stage fittings was left with the Jin Wah Sing Musical Association, apparently by some of the many itinerant troupes visiting Vancouver to perform in the Chinatown theatres in the pre World War II period. There is no certain knowledge of why these materials were not taken back to China by them. They were used by the Jin Wah Sing Musical Association in their performances until they became too dated. The association continued to preserve them carefully, storing them in their headquarters and in the basement of the Chinese Freemasons building until several groups of materials were sold and donated to the Museum of Anthropology.
Item History
- Made in China
- Collected in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada between 1900 and 1940
- Owned by Jin Wah Sing Musical Association before August 28, 1973
- Received from Barrett Montford Endowment Fund (Funding source), Jin Wah Sing Musical Association (Seller), Leon & Thea Koerner Foundation (Funding source), Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source), Mah Society of North America (Funding source), Canada-China Friendship Association (Funding source), Quon H. Wong Agencies (Funding source) and Edith Low-Beer (Funding source) on August 28, 1973
What
- Name
- Cantonese Opera Bag
- Identification Number
- N1.885
- Type of Item
- bag
- Material
- cotton fibre and ink
- Manufacturing Technique
- cut and sewn
- Overall
- height 54.0 cm, width 45.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Chinese: Cantonese
- Previous Owner
- Jin Wah Sing Musical Association
- Received from
- Barrett Montford Endowment Fund (Funding source), Jin Wah Sing Musical Association (Seller), Leon & Thea Koerner Foundation (Funding source), Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source), Mah Society of North America (Funding source), Canada-China Friendship Association (Funding source), Quon H. Wong Agencies (Funding source) and Edith Low-Beer (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- China
- Collected in
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Collection Date
- between 1900 and 1940
- Ownership Date
- before August 28, 1973
- Acquisition Date
- on August 28, 1973
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 0248/0270