-
Details
- Place where the work was made
-
China
- Period
- Qianlong 1736 - 1795 → Qing dynasty 1644 - 1911 → China
- Media category
- Sculpture
- Materials used
- carved rock crystal
- Dimensions
- 13.5 x 12.0 x 7.5 cm
- Credit
- Bequest of Captain G.W. Eedy 1921
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- 2092
- Copyright
- Share
-
About
The appearance of the eagle as a motif in Chinese art goes back to prehistoric times. Throughout history it has been a symbol of nobility and victory. These valiant birds of prey were regarded as the ultimate symbol of the nomadic spirit. The Chinese word for ‘eagle’ (ying) is a homonym for ‘hero’.
Emperor Qianlong (1736-95) of the Qing dynasty particularly liked eagles to be represented in artworks to espouse heroism. When Manchu and Mongolian noblemen brought him eagles from their homelands to add to the imperial menagerie, he would compose poems himself – such as ‘Ode to the white eagle’ – commission painters to paint them, and even had carvers produce decorative objects representing eagles, to please his eyes. -
Places
Where the work was made
China
-
Exhibition history
Shown in 1 exhibition
The Lady and the Unicorn, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 10 Feb 2018–24 Jun 2018