THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 



and ivory carvings, decorative panels, household utensils 

 and implements used in various occupations. 



In the Tower Room is a rare and valuable collection of 

 ancient pottery and bronzes, including mirrors, gongs, 

 lb wer vases, libation cups, censers, bells, dishes and other 

 objects from the Han Dynasty, 206 b.c-220 a.d., Leuch'ao 

 or Six Dynasties, 220 618 a.d., T'ang Dynasty, 618-905 

 a.d.. Sung Dynasty, 960-1278 a.d., Ming Dynasty, 1368- 

 1628 a.d., Last, or Manchu Dynasty, 1644 1912 a.d. From 

 the Sung Dynasty, 960-1278 a.d., is a flower vase of 100 

 rings; only three of these bronze vases are in existence. 

 From the Chou Dynasty, 1122-255 B.C., may be seen a 

 temple bell inlaid with gold and silver, which when struck 

 on the different knobs produces a different musical sound 

 for each, and an unusual type of vessel in one casting, and 

 from the Shang Dynasty, 1766-1 154 B.C., a libation cup for 

 offering wine to deceased ancestors. 



Other specimens, illustrating the religious and home life, 

 including a large image representing the Buddhist God of 

 Mercy, which has eleven heads and forty-two arms, masks, 

 images, altar sets, cosmetics, clothing, and tobacco and 

 opium pipes, are installed in the cases on the west side of 

 the hall. 



From Siberia numerous specimens of clothing, weapons, 

 household utensils, fishing and hunting implements, religious 

 objects, carvings, musical instruments and toys illustrate 

 the home and social life of the Chukchee, Koryak, Lamoot, 

 Yukaghir, Yakut and Russianized natives. Among the speci- 



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