Description:

In ancient China cicadas were symbols of re-birth because of their unusual life cycles.
Young cicadas spend many years underground as larvae before they crawl out and shed their skins, emerging as winged adults.

The dead were often buried with small objects in the shape of cicadas on their tongues in the hope that they would be re-born. The wealthiest people were buried with jade cicadas. These are glass versions which were cheaper to make.

The details of the design was cut by placing the glass against a fast spinning wheel covered with abrasive sand. Black pigment has been applied to the body of the cicada for extra decoration.

Glass, wheel cut
Width: 3.0 cm, length: 5.6 cm, depth: 0.9 cm

Creator: Unknown

Date: About 100-300 A.D.

Copyright: Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives

Object ID:N4808