Chinese Royal Lacquer Box for Poetry Slips

A Chinese royal court lacquer box made specifically to contain the poem slips composed by Qing Dynasty emperor Qianlong (1711-1799). Although we are pretty certain that the current box was made in a later period (end of Qing dynasty to Republic period) as a reproduction, as the original ones made by the royal workshop were very rare and only a few copies were documented and considered as cultural treasure. The lacquer box, however, was of a very high quality and aesthetic merit as a collectible lacquerware. It is of a rectangular form with rounded corners in an overall yellow lacquer finish, a color reserved for the royal court. The lid sits on top of the base which are supported by four L shape feet (in a design called Heaven on Earth). The exterior background is finely carved with an interlink "Wan" pattern (ten thousand symbol) and filled with gold lacquer. On top, inlay color paints depict a wide range of plants including bamboo, pine, plum, peony, daffodil, grapes and camellia. They were arranged in two symmetrical columns flanking the central vertical calligraphy that reads "His Majesty Penmanship Yang Zheng Paint Poems", indicating the specific usage of the box. The floral pattern continues on all sides. The interior is of a vermilion red lacquer finish with branch marks. The base is of a yellow bark finish and in the center it is signed "Great Qing QianLong Year Made".