Collections

Chinese Crate

Chinese Crate - Crate
Accession #: 2776.15
Title: Chinese Crate
Object Type: Crate
Participants:
Physical Description: A pine slat crate, Chinese in origin, with no lid. The sides have dove-tailed joints and are held together with iron nails. The entire outside and inside of the crate is covered with light brown paper, with much of it wearing off. The top has five nails bent over, presumably from the crate. There is large Chinese writing in black ink on three sides.
Description: This Chinese crate came from downtown Spokane's thriving international district, known as Trent Alley, where Chinese and Japanese operated laundries, restaurants, hotels, and other businesses. After China loosened emigration restrictions around 1870, many southeastern Chinese left their war-torn homeland for American gold fields. Following hard labor in Inland Northwest mining and railroad construction, many returned to China as anti-Chinese attitudes increased. Others settled mainly in Walla Walla, Colville and Spokane. By the 1970s a rundown Trent Alley was razed in preparation for Expo '74.
Category: History
Geographical Reference: Trent Alley (Washington->Spokane County->Spokane)
Dimensions:
Object H x W x L 12 3/4 x 16 1/4 x 21 1/2"
Materials/Techniques:
pine (wood) (Material)
ink (Material)
metal (Material)
paper (fiber product) (Material)
Marks/Inscription:
San Francisco, Seattle, Wash. Wongtaikee Wingonstreet Koylon Canton.
Chinese characters
Related Exhibits:
Credit Line: Gift of James Roloff, 1981

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