Chinese Wood Birdcage Lamp

Round birdcage with a lantern center and a hanging hook, ready for the finest recital.

This birdcage lamp is from Hebei Province, China, and dates to the 19th century. It is bamboo. Many Chinese antiques are now returning to China through auction houses and foreign dealers, as Chinese buyers actively purchase older pieces back, which the article describes as reclaiming their heritage. Cylindrical frame of thin vertical bars wraps a cloth-like inner sleeve. A stepped crown and a looping hook sit at the top. A wide base carries a faded line of inscribed characters and a worn rim. It is 22 inches high and 12 in diameter.

The tenant is absent, but the lodging is tasteful.