Lacquer box in the shape of a boat ornamented with jade belt, Qianlong reign (1736-1795), Qing dynasty

Lacquer box in the shape of a boat ornamented with jade belt, Qianlong reign (1736-1795), Qing dynasty

• Image Number: K1H000462N000000000PAB
• Dynasty: Qing dynasty
• Category: Lacquer wares
• Function: Container
• Material: Plants/Paint/
• Description:
  Japanese painted lacquer boxes were also used in various kinds of packaging in the Qing Palace. According to the records of the Yongzheng Dynasty’s Work Plan File, it is common to store cultural relics in various kinds of lacquer boxes. Such a good trend should have originated from the Ming Dynasty. In the article “Xiang (Box)” of Chang Wu Zhi (Chang Wu Zhi) by Zhenheng in the Ming Dynasty, it was recorded that the Japanese box was inlaid with black lacquer and gold and silver pieces. The large box was filled with gold and silver pieces, and its hinges, nails, locks and keys were all marvelous. It was best to place ancient jade heavy objects or small volumes in the Jin and Tang Dynasties; There is another kind of flower, which is very poor and elegant. It is as light as paper for Fangsheng, tassels and other flowers. It can also be used for scrolls, incense, and miscellaneous games. It is better to have more animals for standby in the fast. The “Japanese box” here refers to the painted lacquer box in Japan, which is considered suitable for storing antiques. The Qing Palace took this as the basis, and mostly used the lacquer box as the outer box of cultural relics packaging. The lacquered boxes used in the Qing Palace vary from large to small. The selected sizes here are small, but the shapes are different. For example, they are placed in hundreds of pieces, such as the “painted boat shaped box”. The boat shape is used to match the carved wooden seat with the wave pattern. The small space inside is used to store jade.