Chinese Balls with chimes

[sandnsea]

So I'm cleaning out the back room, having a yard sale this week-end, and I ran across these lacquered Chinese balls. They're very pretty, lacquered with chinese design, and when you shake them, they have a pretty chiming sound. They're in a blue cardboard box. I must have picked them up at a yard sale at some point in time and forgotten about them. Anybody know what they're called, any cultural info? Thanks!

[suninvited]

1. A Wikipedia article about them

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baoding_Balls

[sandnsea]

2. Thank you so much

These don't look to be valuable, I think I'll try to figure out some way to display them. It kind of goes with my "what a ship captain might have brought home" theme. That way my husband can have his ships and nautical stuff, and I can have some nice vases and what-nots too.

The chime in these is just beautiful. I wonder if it's used in any wind chimes.

[eleny]

3. From that wiki link they'd be great to use while watching the MSM

"...invigorates the brain increasing wit, refreshes and eliminates worry..."

[sandnsea]

4. lol

That's good - witty. You've been using them??

:rofl:

[brer cat]

5. My daughter's cats think they are cool

to bat around. Cheap entertainment for the felines?

[Duer 157099]

6. These are one of those mysteries to me

I had seen them before and always thought that they gave the appearance of something very rare and collectible. If I had seen them in a thrift store, I have no doubt I would have bought them. Although, knowing my stores, they'd have them behind lock and key with the rest of their perceived-valuables.

Then I went in to Chinatown in San Francisco one day and noticed them in every shop. For some ridiculous price, like $1. And that's including the box!

So naturally I got a set :D

But I just could not believe how inexpensive they were. I'm glad I found them at Chinatown first, before ever seeing them in a thrift store, lol.

[sandnsea]

7. I am the world's thriftiest thrift

I'm that annoying person who comes to your sale and only buys things that are a dime or a quarter, lol. I doubt I paid more than a dollar for them. I don't really care because like you said, they look wonderfully collectible. :)