Dragon Boat Alarm

19th century

Ancient Chinese devised alarms with the use of incense sticks-which burned at a constant rate- placed horizontally on the boat; a thread with two bells tied on would be slung over the stick and when it burned down underneath the thread broke, the bells dropped and alerted the people. Shifting the string adjusted the alarm time.

Lacquered wood with pigment and metal

27 9/16 x 7 1/4 x 2 1/4 in. (70 x 18.4 x 5.7 cm)

Gift of Ruth, Nancy and Kal Kallison in memory of James M. Kallison, in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Seattle Art Museum

2007.68

Photo: Susan Cole

Not currently on view

Resources

Published ReferencesYiu, Josh. "The Chinese Connection and the Chinese Collection at the Seattle Art Museum," A Community of Collectors, Seattle, WA: Seattle Art Museum, 2008, p. 162, illus. 138.

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