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I'm a student at Emerson College and I am currently working on a project where I have to identify an artifact that I know nothing about. After a few days of searching around I think I may have narrowed down my object to be some sort of ancient chinese carving device. If anyone can help me verify exactly what it is and what it was used for it would be greatly appreciated!

Size?

Materials?

First off, it looks very much as if we are looking at a picture of the object, not the object itself, which means that any other views or close-ups are likely to be problematic.

However, I suggest that the object is a type of systrum, a musical rattle, usually with some ritualistic function.

it is a systrum. Look for it on the Net, in many Sotheby's or Christie's "Antiquities" catalogues or ask at Royal Athena.
Franco

It is in the British Museum.

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