Bamboo carved Begonia type hollow incense box

[Bamboo carved Begonia type hollow incense box]

Bamboo carved Begonia type hollow incense box, mid Qing Dynasty, with a height of 8.2 cm and a maximum diameter of 10.2 cm
The box is carved from bamboo roots and is slightly oval in shape. It is shaped like a begonia and is divided into two parts: the cover and the body. The decoration is mainly concentrated on the raised lid, with a total of two layers. Each layer is engraved with a pattern of embossed lotus petals covering a circle, and the lower layer is carved with flowers and plants wrapped in branches. The body looks like a disk, with a shallow, folded edge, astringent abdomen, and a flat bottom. The edge of the mouth is embossed and the rest is plain, decorated with convex and concave edges. The box is equipped with four animal hoof shaped feet, and the foot roots are embossed with Ruyi cloud patterns
The shape of this utensil seems to be derived from the lotus type incense burner of the Tang and Song dynasties, with a lid decorated with lotus flowers on the top and multiple feet on the bottom. However, in order to burn incense, the material used is mostly metal, ceramics, stone, etc. This utensil carved with bamboo roots does not have the function of burning incense, but instead stores resin spices and incense boxes such as incense cakes and pills. Its hollow out can reveal a fragrance, and its small and exquisite shape can add spice to the study desk. This piece is a prominent piece of bamboo carving incense utensil with antique craftsmanship in the Qing Dynasty.