Gourd-shaped box with bamboo-yellow veneer. 18th century.

Gourd-shaped box with bamboo-yellow veneer. 18th century.

• Image Number: K1G000002N000000000PAB
• Dynasty: Qing dynasty
• Category: Carvings
• Function: Container
• Material: Plants/Bamboo/
• Description:
  The whole vessel is made into a long oval shape. The surface of the vessel is covered with bamboo yellow pieces, and then the original carved branches and leaves are stuck on the surface of the bamboo yellow pieces. The inner tube of the vessel is carved from boxwood. The covered branches protrude from one end and buckle to the mouth edge of the vessel. The whole vessel is almost covered with bamboo yellow pieces, but the covered branches reveal the natural color of boxwood, making the light yellow wood and the brown and yellow of the bamboo yellow pieces match each other. The inner wall of the utensil is covered with gold foil. The history of bamboo yellow craft is not long, and the popularity of bamboo yellow ware is not as good as that of ceramics. However, because of the special position of bamboo in the minds of Chinese people, bamboo yellow is elegant in color. “The quality of bamboo yellow is like ivory, but it is plain, and the quality is like boxwood, but it is also strong.” Ivory and boxwood are both delicate and elegant precious materials for making utensils. Therefore, not only the scholar bureaucrats love this kind of bamboo yellow ware, but once it reaches heaven’s ears, it will be favored by the Qing emperor and become a national gift.