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Asian American Comparative Collection

Asian American Comparative Collection

Moscow

Physical Address:
404 Sweet Avenue

Mailing Address:
Asian American Comparative Collection
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 1111
Moscow, Idaho 83844-1111

Phone: 208-885-7075

Web: aacc

Faculty and Staff Map

Artifact Identification

A number of Chinese and Japanese artifacts that may be found on nineteenth- and twentieth-century archaeological sites in North America. Scales vary.

For more information and examples, including artifact names as used by the Asian American Comparative Collection, you may order the following two pamphlets:

Additional digital images and descriptions of Chinese artifacts can be found in the Chinese Material Culture Collection, hosted by Southern Oregon University. Information on historical Japanese ceramics can be found in the Historical Japanese Ceramic Comparative Collection, created by the AACC, the Burke Museum, and graduate student Renae Campbell.

Artifacts depicted on this page are all from the Asian American Comparative Collection except where noted. If you wish to use these images for noncommercial or educational purposes, please indicate that the photo is courtesy of the Asian American Comparative Collection, University of Idaho, Moscow, and include any relevant catalog numbers.

Chinese Artifacts

Food, Liquor, and Food Storage Artifacts

Liquor bottle, Chinese brown-glazed stoneware.
Liquor bottle, Chinese brown-glazed stoneware. Catalog number AACC-2004-288.
Spouted jar, Chinese brown-glazed stoneware.
Spouted jar, Chinese brown-glazed stoneware. Catalog number CCC-82-10.
Wide-mouthed jar, Chinese brown-glazed stoneware, and lid.
Wide-mouthed jar, Chinese brown-glazed stoneware, and lid, unglazed stoneware. Catalog number AACC-94-28.
Straight-sided jars and lids, Chinese brown-glazed and green-glazed stoneware.
Straight-sided jars and lids, Chinese brown-glazed and green-glazed stoneware. Catalog numbers AACC-2008-078, ACC-91-24, and ACC-91-23.
Pans, Chinese brown-glazed stoneware.
Pans, Chinese brown-glazed stoneware. Catalog numbers ACC-85-53 and ACC-85-54.
Globular jar, Chinese brown-glazed stoneware.
Globular jar, Chinese brown-glazed stoneware. Catalog number AACC-96-50.
Barrel jar and lid, Chinese brown-glazed stoneware.
Barrel jar and lid, Chinese brown-glazed stoneware. Catalog number AACC-97-7.
Ginger jars and lid, stoneware with various glazes.
Ginger jars and lid, stoneware with various glazes. Catalog numbers CCC-83-3, WCC-38 [lid], AACC-2020-160, and AACC-97-38.
Ginger jars and lid, green-glazed stoneware. The left two are hexagonal.
Ginger jars and lid, green-glazed stoneware. The left two are hexagonal. Catalog numbers AACC-95-9, CCC-84-75, CCC-83-45, and AACC-2020-183.
Barrel jar (top) and other green glazed stonewares.
Barrel jar (top) and other green glazed stonewares. Catalog numbers AACC-2020-187, AACC-91-23, ACC-89-36, CCC-83-45, AACC-2020-183, and AACC-98-120.
"Bean cake" (preserved tofu) jar, colorless glass.
"Bean cake" (preserved tofu) jar, colorless glass. Catalog number AACC-2004-192.
Tea can, metal.
Tea can, metal. Catalog number CCC-84-102.
Oil can lid, exterior, metal.
Oil can lid, exterior, metal. Very faint embossed Chinese characters appear to the right of the cap. Catalog number AACC-94-37.

Tablewares

Rice bowl, "Double Happiness" pattern, porcelain.
Rice bowl, "Double Happiness" pattern, porcelain. Catalog number AACC-2009-11.
Rice bowls, "Bamboo" pattern, porcelaneous stoneware.
Rice bowls, "Bamboo" pattern, porcelaneous stoneware. Catalog numbers AACC-2009-59 and AACC-98-89.
Spoon, rice bowl, liquor cup, and teacup with “Winter Green” glaze, porcelain.
Spoon, rice bowl, liquor cup, and teacup with “Winter Green” glaze, porcelain. This glaze was formerly incorrectly identified as “Celadon.” Catalog numbers ACC-86-35, AACC-98-112, LCC-11, and LCC-10.
Serving bowl and liquor cup, “Four Seasons Flowers” pattern, porcelain.
Serving bowl and liquor cup, “Four Seasons Flowers” pattern, porcelain. Catalog numbers CCC-82-16 and WCC-13.
Liquor warmer and lid, "Sweet Pea" pattern, porcelain.
Liquor warmer and lid, "Sweet Pea" pattern, porcelain. Catalog number AACC-2002-119.
Spoon, teacup, liquor cup, sauce server, and bowl lid.
Spoon, teacup, liquor cup, sauce server, and bowl lid, “Attributes of the Eight Immortals” pattern, porcelain. Catalog numbers AACC-2013-54, AACC-2020-159, LCC-8, AACC-2020-108, and CCC-83-50.

Tobacco- and Opium-Smoking Paraphernalia

Chinese tobacco pipe bowls, metal.
Tobacco pipe bowls, metal. Catalog numbers ACC-90-56 and ACC-93-74.
Opium pipe bowls, ceramic.
Opium pipe bowls, ceramic. The incorrect term "damper" is sometimes used for these objects, but an opium pipe bowl is not a "damper." Catalog numbers WCC-64, WCC-57, ACC-90-55, and WCC-55.
Opium pipe bowl connector, metal.
Opium pipe bowl connector, metal. Catalog number CCC-84-106.
Opium pipe saddle, metal.
Opium pipe saddle, metal. Catalog number ACC-86-30b.
Wick support for an opium lamp, colorless glass.
Wick support for an opium lamp, colorless glass. Catalog number AACC-2003-389.
Wick support and wick holder, repurposed opium can metal.
Wick support and wick holder, repurposed opium can metal. Catalog number CCC-84-105.
Opium lamp bases, colorless and amethyst glass.
Opium lamp bases, colorless and amethyst glass. Catalog numbers WCC-51 and ACC-86-61.
Opium cans and lid, brass and other metal.
Opium cans and lid, possibly paktong, an alloy of zinc, copper, and nickel. Because these are made of metals other than tin, they should not be referred to as “opium tins.” Catalog numbers ACC-90-50, CCC-84-133, and ACC-93-67.

Medicine Bottles

Chinese medicine bottles, aqua and colorless glass
Medicine bottles, aqua and colorless glass. The two bottles on left are often mistakenly called “opium bottles.” Catalog numbers WCC-48, WCC-46, AACC-2018-012, AACC-96-95, and CCC-82-18.

Games, Gambling Paraphernalia, and Coins

Chinese lottery ticket, “spreading out cover,” glass gaming pieces, dice, and a domino.
Lottery ticket, “spreading out cover,” glass gaming pieces, dice, and a domino. Catalog numbers AACC-2004-185, CCC-84-104, and AACC-2017-076.
Coins, metal.
Coins, metal. Catalog Numbers ACC-85-43, ACC-85-39, and ACC-89-18.

Japanese Artifacts

Tablewares

Rice bowls (gohan chawan) with lids (futa), porcelain.
Rice bowls (gohan chawan) with lids (futa), porcelain. Catalog numbers AACC-2017-061 and AACC-2021-027.
Dobin-style teapot with bamboo handle, Aizu-Hongo ware with sometsuke (hand-painted cobalt) decoration, porcelain.
Dobin-style teapot with bamboo handle and lid, Aizu-Hongo ware with sometsuke (hand-painted cobalt) decoration, porcelain. Catalog number AACC-2018-01.
Teacups (yunomi), Fukizumi stencil and transfer print (doban) decoration, porcelain.
Teacups (yunomi), fukizumi stencil and transfer print (doban) decoration, porcelain. Catalog numbers ACC-88-10 and AACC-2015-48.
Soba-choko (sauce cups for noodles), katagami stencil and transferprint (doban) decoration, porcelain.
Soba-choko (sauce cups for noodles), katagami stencil and transferprint (doban) decoration, porcelain. Most modern examples have flat bases, rather than raised footrings. Catalog numbers AACC-2020-01 and AACC-2020-02.
Pickle dish (namasu-zara), katagami stencil decoration with Three Friends of Winter (Sho Chiku Bai) motif, porcelain.
Pickle dish (namasu-zara), katagami stencil decoration with Three Friends of Winter (Sho Chiku Bai) motif, porcelain. Catalog number ACC-88-5.
Plate (sara), Seiji (greenware) with hand painted decoration, porcelain.
Plate (sara), seiji (greenware) with hand painted decoration, porcelain. Catalog number AACC-98-85.

Sake wares

Sake bottles (saka-bin), ceramic.
Sake bottles (saka-bin), ceramic. Catalog numbers CCC-82-08 and AACC-94-82.
Tokkuri (vessels for heating and serving sake), overglaze enamel (iro-e) and katagami stencil decoration, porcelain.
Tokkuri (vessels for heating and serving sake), overglaze enamel (iro-e) and katagami stencil decoration, porcelain. Catalog numbers AACC-2003-348 and AACC-94-34.
Sake cups, ceramic.
Sake cups, ceramic. Catalog numbers AACC-2003-302, ACC-92-07, AACC-2001-50, AACC-98-2, and AACC-2012-5.

Kitchen wares

Suribachi (grinding bowls) with combed interiors, stoneware.
Suribachi (grinding bowls) with combed interiors, stoneware. Catalog numbers AACC-2020-111 and ACC-93-10.

Export wares

Plate (sara), Red Picture Transfer ware (Aka-e doban tensha), porcelain.
Plate (sara), Red Picture Transfer ware (aka-e doban tensha), porcelain. This decorative pattern is often called “Geisha Girl” by Western collectors, though the women depicted are not geisha. Catalog number AACC-99-304.
Plate (sara), Ho-o Bird pattern, porcelain.
Plate (sara), Ho-o Bird pattern, porcelain. Called “Phoenix ware” by Western collectors, this pattern features the mythical ho-o bird, not a phoenix . Catalog number AACC-2008-77.

Medicine Bottles and Coins

Medicine bottles; cobalt, amethyst, and aqua glass.
Medicine bottles; cobalt, amethyst, and aqua glass. Catalog numbers ACC-86-22, ACC-86-56, and ACC-86-23.
Chinese coins, metal.
Coins, metal. Catalog numbers AACC-99-151 and ACC-93-203.

Asian American Comparative Collection

Moscow

Physical Address:
404 Sweet Avenue

Mailing Address:
Asian American Comparative Collection
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 1111
Moscow, Idaho 83844-1111

Phone: 208-885-7075

Web: aacc

Faculty and Staff Map