Bamboo Quiver or Container

Quiver or case in bamboo cane with lid (of the same material) snapped onto the underlying cane. The interior is rough. The external surface is decorated with pyrographed and Indian ink designs.

The pyrographed representations can be divided into three overlapping bands. The first at the top begins under the lid and is delimited by two parallel engraved lines. It is composed of six characters who, observing the object in an anticlockwise direction, are: a bald man with a long robe and long jacket like a cloak, holding in his left hand a large flower which he seems to offer to his neighbour, another man with long hair and a round brimmed hat. The subject is dressed in European style with puffy trousers that reach to the knees and a long jacket with a transverse lace band and a round neck. Behind him a man of much smaller stature in knee-length trousers and shirt; he has short curly hair, in his right hand he holds an umbrella with a long handle, in his left a long, thin stick, ending on one side with a point, on the other with a round eyelet. Next is a naked man holding a large bow and long hair, in front of which stands an animal similar to a bovine followed by another man also naked with long wavy hair. In the left hand was represented a spear with a sharp tip, later erased, but still visible in part. The second band is mostly occupied by an inscription, made with a wider tip. Follows a hunting scene and a band with floral motifs.

As can be seen from the inscription, it was sent to the "Museo de Bononia" by the Jesuit P. Pedro Murillo Velarde. Before becoming part of the collections of the medieval Civic Museum, it belonged to the University Collections.

Writing technique: pyrography
Transcription: CANA DE PHILIPINAS DE MAS DE 20 BARAS DE LARGO QUE EMBIA PARA EL MUSEO DE BOLONIA P. PEDRO MURILLO VALARDE soc. Jesus

Bamboo cane, hollowed out and decorated with pyrography and ink drawings.

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Map    Museo Civico Medievale (Bologna)