pigeon flute;gourd w/4 slotted bamboo openings;painted black w/red floral border; bamboo tongue for tail ring; c. 14 cm.
Donor:
Estate of James Pomeroy Howe
Collection place:
Beijing, Beijing municipality, Northern China
Verbatim coll. place:
Peking, China
Collector:
James Pomeroy Howe
Collection date:
1930s
Materials:
Bamboo (material) and Ink
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Pigeon flutes
Function:
5.6 Sports, Games, Amusements; Gambling and Pet Accessories
Accession date:
1970
Context of use:
According to some writers, flutes were attached to message-carrying pigeons to frighten away hawks & eventually were used by pigeon fanciers to lure away another's pigeon or flock or to increase wealth and status. According to Berthold Laufer, the flutes were used for the aesthetic value of their music. Makers in this collection include: HUNG, CHUNG, KUEI, MING, PAN, SHIH-TZU (?), SHENG, LI. For additional information consult accession envelope.