The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 19, 2024

Cabbage and Beetle

Cabbage and Beetle

mid-1700s
(1644–1911), Qianlong reign (1736–95)
carved wood
Overall: 13.9 cm (5 1/2 in.)
Sundry Purchase Fund 1966.376
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

Cord binds the cabbage loosely at the middle and goes through carved coins before ending in tassels.

Description

In the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), luxury items became more affordable to larger parts of the society, including women, merchants, and literati in non-official positions. Imperial patronage and a growing urban population encouraged consumption of luxury goods and local craftmanship.

A superbly skilled carver created this small decorative object, reflecting scholarly taste of the period. This cabbage on a gnarled rock was carved from single piece of wood. There are openings between the stems, holes in leaves, and the rock it rests on. A beetle perches on one leaf which curves over the binding cord. The beetle was painted dark brown, while the cabbage and rock were finished overall with lighter tone.
  • ?–1966
    (Nagatani Inc., Chicago, IL, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
    1966–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • “Year in Review.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 54, no. 10 (December 1967): 302–346. Mentioned: p. 347, no. 166 www.jstor.org
    Jenkins, Donald, and Robin Scribnick. Masterworks in Wood: China and Japan : [Exhibition] Portland Art Museum, November 4 Through December 5, 1976, Asia House Gallery, January 13 Through March 20, 1977. Portland, OR : Portland Art Museum, 1976. cat. no. 25
  • China through the Magnifying Glass: Masterpieces in Miniature and Detail. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 11, 2022-February 26, 2023).
    Main Asian Gallery Rotation (Gallery 122). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (May 30, 1999-April 7, 2004).
    Scholar's Studio. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 19-December 17, 1989).
    Masterworks of Wood: China and Japan. Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR (organizer) (November 4-December 5, 1976); Asia House Galleries, New York City, NY (January 13-March 27, 1977).
    Year in Review: 1967. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 29-December 31, 1967).
  • {{cite web|title=Cabbage and Beetle|url=false|author=|year=mid-1700s|access-date=19 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1966.376