During Tang dynasty (618 – 906) crickets popularity as house pets increased. Chinese kept them in cages. Crickets rendered pleasant during evenings with their singing and they were also used during crickets’ fights. In Song dynasty ( 960 – 1278) crickets became a popular subject of a conversation at tea houses and markets. In Chinese art crickets symbolises spring as well as summer, and also happiness and prosperity.

The cages are decorated with floral shape enamel decoration in cloisonné technique. That kind of decoration is made during the process of fusing powdered glass, which is coloured by metal oxides, in high temperature and then putting it on parts which are separated by wires.

The cuboid shape cage has also a decoration of dog, which symbolises fertility and is one of the Chinese zodiac signs.

China, 2nd half of the 20th century

Enamel, copper

MAP 16987 and MAP 16988

The cricket cages can be viewed in the Museum hall until 31^st July.