Dark Yellow-Medium Brown Spotted Tortoiseshell Eating Set
Inventory number: 1a-d
© Collection Asian Eating Sets, Dieter Ammer / Photo: Anatol Dreyer
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Origin: probably China
Dimensions and material:
Quiver (21.4 x 2 cm): Wood, Tortoiseshell, Silver, Brass, Ivory, Mother-of-Peal
Knife (Hilt and Blade: 12.2 cm, 17 cm): Wood, Tortoiseshell, Mother-of-Peal, Iron
Chopsticks (22.4 x 0.6-0.2 cm): Ivory
Toothpick (5.5 cm): Wood
Ribbon: Silk
Weight: 111g
Technique: Tortoiseshell Quiver, Inlay
Motifs: Vase, Lingchih, Tendrils
Short description:
The eating set consists of a quiver containing a knife, a pair of chopsticks and a toothpick.
The quiver is made of dark yellow and brown spotted tortoiseshell over a wooden base, a ferrule and a handle cap made of silver hold it at the top and bottom. A copper-colored silk tassel is attached to a brass ring. The wooden toothpick is framed by inlays in ivory above and mother-of-pearl below, which represent vases standing on narrow pedestals – the Chinese expression for vase (p’ing) is homonymous with the word for peace.
The handle of the knife is probably also made of tortoise shell over a wooden base, a lingchih mushroom (a symbol of long life) is inlaid in mother-of-pearl.
The toothpick and chopsticks are made of ivory. The head of the chopsticks are covered with a silver mount decorated with tendrils.
