168 BULLETIN 148, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



306. Bowl or lamp. — Brass. Made in form of a demoniac mask 

 with open mouth, adorned with colored stones on the forehead 

 and a rayed diadem, behind which is a small standing figure. The 

 head rests on a sort of tripod. The earlobes are in form of coiled 

 snakes. Height, 7 inches. Tibet (?). (Cat. No. 315325, U.S.N.M.) 

 Bequest of Alfred Louis Moreau Gottschalk. 



307. Altar covering (Chinese, liuan mun-tiao-lnua) . — Made of brown 

 cloth, consisting of a center piece scalloped at the lower edge, with 

 tw^o side pieces which descended over the edge of the altar. Em- 

 broidered in gold with dragons and Icilins (kirins), a mj^tliical animal, 

 pictured as resembling a stag in its body and a horse in its hoof, 

 but possessing the tail of an ox and a parti-colored or scaly sldn, 

 and a single horn, having a fleshy tip, proceeds out of the forehead. 

 The Icilin is believed to exhibit great benevolence of disposition toward 

 other living animals, and to appear only when wise and just kings or 

 sages are born. Dimensions, 24 by 30/4 inches. Shanghai, China. 

 (Cat. No. 158307, U.S.N.M.) 



308-311. Four altar coverings (Chinese, Jiuan mun-tiao-kua) . — 

 Made of oblong pieces of brown cloth, with centerpieces of red cloth. 

 The edges are embroidered in silk with floral designs, while on the 

 body is an inscription in Chinese characters pasted on. Dimensions, 

 37 by 8K inches. Shanghai, China. (Cat. No. 158307, U.S.N.M.) 



312-313. Pair of candlesticks. — Made of pew^ter in the shape of 

 the Chinese character for longevity (slieu). The candles are stuck 

 on the points at the top of the candlesticks, and lighted whenever a 

 ceremony takes place. This is done in the temple service as well as 

 in home worship. Height, 19 inches. Shanghai, Cliina. (Plate 63 

 (upper), figs. 1 and 3, Cat. No. 158294, U.S.N.M.) 



314. Incense burner (kong-po-to) . — Made of pewter. On the front 

 are in relief the Chinese characters for longevity (sJieu) and bliss (fu). 

 Height, 7% inches; length, 5% inches; width, 4 inches. Shanghai, 

 China. (Plate 63 (upper), fig. 2, Cat. No. 158295, U.S.N.M.) 



315. Imitation candlesticlcs. — Wooden sticks with inserted points 

 for candles to be stuck on them. Height, 8 inches. Japan. (Cat. 

 No. 130678, U.S.N.M.) 



316. Censer. — Bronze. Supported on three legs formed of double 

 volutes or spirals. The handles are in shape of dragons. The cover, 

 in open work, is surmomited by a mythical bird perched on some 

 mythical animal. The circumference is embossed with dragons and 

 other monsters. Height 10 inches; diameters, 6 and 4% inches. 

 Japan. (Plate 62 (upper left), Cat. No. 220057, U.S.N.M.) Lent 

 by Miss Eliza R. Scidmore. 



317. Candlestick. — Bronze. Consisting of the figure of an emaci- 

 ated ascetic holding a long dragon, the head of which rests on the 

 base, while the tail terminates in a bowl for inserting a candle. 



