Flask with beaker and tea set, from set of funerary offerings

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This flask with beaker and tea set, bought from a funerary goods supplier in Singapore, is from a boxed set of paper and cardboard offerings for a man. The offerings represent a full set of symbolic possessions for the afterlife.

The imitation Thermos flask and separate beaker are of cardboard, and the tea set, which comprises a pot and three small handle-less cups, is also of cardboard, in a presentation cellophane-covered cardboard box.

These symbolic possessions are burned in a night-time Daoist funerary ceremony, several weeks after the deceased's cremation. It is a widespread contemporary tradition in south-east Asia. The cardboard items are burned to ensure a comfortable afterlife.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-217-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  K.1999.1172 B
• Date: 1999
  1999
  1999
  1999
  
• Material: Card, green and silver; paper
  Card, orange; card, pink; glue
  Card, pink
  Card, white red and green
  Flask
  Flask cup
  Teapot
  Tray / cup
  
• Dimensions: 143 mm H x 97 mm L x 150 mm W
  278 mm H x 90 mm D
  50 mm H x 196 mm L x 172 mm W
  97 mm H x 111 mm D
  
• What: Flask
  Flask cup
  Teapot
  Tray / cup
  
• Subject: Paper offering
  Paper offering
  Paper offering
  Paper offering
  
• Who:
• Where: Singapore
  Singapore
  Singapore
  Singapore
  
• Event:
• Description: Green and silver card flask with paper picture of fruit on the front, part of paper offerings for a man, which would be burnt at the graveside as an offering for ancestors: Singapore, 1999
  White red and green card cup for a flask, part of paper offerings for a man, which would be burnt at the graveside as an offering for ancestors: Singapore, 1999
  Pink card teapot, part of paper offerings for a man, which would be burnt at the graveside as an offering for ancestors: Singapore, 1999
  Orange card tray with three pink card cups glued to it, part of paper offerings for a man, which would be burnt at the graveside as an offering for ancestors: Singapore, 1999
  
• References:
• Translations:
• Related Records: