Features
Tsuishu carved lacquer technique: carving through many layers of lacquer gives the flowers and leaf veins clear relief.
Covered in peony motifs: a wish for wealth and good fortune, equally suitable for display or as a gift.
Small and finely made: it fits in one hand and holds incense pellets, rings, earrings or pressed powder.
A focus of colour: the true red lacquer is striking on a desk or at a tea setting.
Archaistic taste: it echoes the vocabulary of Ming and Qing carved lacquer and sits well alongside wooden objects, blue-and-white porcelain and bronzes.
Versatile function: usable as a powder box, incense box, jewellery box or seal-paste box.
An entry-level size for collecting: easy to display and takes up little space.
Craftsmanship worth studying: the turns of the carving tool and the layering of the leaves reward close looking.
Warm to the touch: repeated grinding and lacquering give it a fine sheen and a pleasant feel in the hand.
An approachable price band: a practical small object with fine craft detail and good value.