Minneapolis Institute of Art

Cricket Trap

China

Date

19th century

Medium

Bamboo and iron

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Crickets were usually captured in the evening in small traps made out of bamboo or ivory rods fitted with sliding doors. This style of container also served as cages in some parts of China. The exceptionally rare iron nets shown here were used to capture insects and also act as a wire cage to hold a cricket while its gourd or pottery cage was being cleaned. The long, pointed handle of the iron net was used to dislodge wet wood, rocks and other debris while hunting crickets. Asia

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