Antique Chinese Gourd Cricket Winter Cage Double Happiness Carvings 3.5" Japanese 5" Width = 16"

5"  Width = 16"

5 cm) by 3 1/4" (7

Sho Chiku Bai (松竹梅)

The highest level of craftsmanship was required to hand make the carving

Bronze/brass hardware

Antique Chinese Gourd Cricket Winter Cage Double Happiness Carvings 3.5" Japanese 5" Width = 16"This is a collectible antique Chinese cricket cage carved from a round gourd. Keeping crickets and then the art of making these gourd homes started in the 5th century Tang Dynasty. Cricket were kept warm and comfortable near the pillow so their song could be heard through the night. Collected in the 1960's while the previous owner lived and traveled extensively in China. It has been in storage or carefully displayed for over five decades, it has a