Small China: Early Chinese Miniatures

The pocketsize representations of supernatural beings, people, animals, or everyday objects are virtually uncharted in East Asian crafts-even in China, these objects in jade, bronze, ivory, and porcelain are little known. The miniatures had many different functions, from insignia, fetishes and devotional objects to burial gifts or toys, and could express good wishes or even serve as bribes.

This volume presents Chinese miniatures from 5,000 BCE up to the fifteenth century, explores their arcane meanings and traces their production.