Carpenter Internship Update

There are many wonderful objects that have been studied with the Carpenter Fellowship, one particular object that I found enjoyable is this small tin or aluminum box. It appears to be a Foo dog or Chinese guardian lion, which are symbols associated with wealth and protection. An interesting discovery I’ve made is that the Metropolitan Museum has, what appears to be, similar items in their collection. The object at the Met is referred to as a Pair of Incense Boxes in the Shape of Dog Charms. In the description it states: “By the beginning of the Edo period, they were part of the traditional wedding set, used to ensure safe childbirth and also to protect the child's health. Initially, inuhariko pairs—male and female—were presented at the engagement ceremony; later, they had an important role in the wedding process as well—they were carried in the wedding palanquin as good luck amulets.”

It’s interesting to speculate whether this item was a part of a set given to a member of the Ellwood family as an engagement gift, maybe by their friend who often gave gifts from Asia. It is also an interesting amalgamation of Chinese artistic motifs on a box of, supposedly, Japanese tradition. There are many amazing objects both from Asia and made in an Asian style within the Ellwood’s collection, many of which have themes of family and children.

Source for the Met: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/45358