COLLECTION NAME:
National Palace English
Record
Work ID:
M01K00015
Title:
Gilt sculpture of a pair of cranes
Creation Date:
Qing Dynasty
Start Year Date:
A.D.1644
End Year Date:
A.D.1911
Dynasty:
63 Qing Dynasty (A.D. 1644~1911)
Creation Place:
China
Measurements:
Length: 15.5~15.1 cm; Weight: 527.8~517.4g
Material:
Gilt
Type:
Gold and Silver ware
Subject:
Birds
Repository:
The National Palace Museum, Taipei
Description:
The cranes' heads are flat and round and have a simple decorative design, "Yuding," which imitates the small knobs usually found on the surface of early bronze wares. The crane's beak and neck are long, tails are short, and two wings slightly flare. The feet have four claws, and are nailed to the rectangular stand underneath. The whole body including the legs is decorated with feather patterns. Note: The crane is deemed the bird of sun and thus the head of all poultry. During both the Ming and Qing dynasty, crane is an official design on the first rank officials' official cloak. In Taoism, the crane symbolizes immortality. Thus, the crane, pine tree, or tortoise as decorative motifs usually symbolize prestige, longevity and evergreen.
ImageV ID:
M01K00015AS001
Rights:
Lee & Lee Communications