L340xD170xH70mm, China
Apology for the misinformed blog yesterday. This box should be a name card holder, yes, the traditional name card are of this size. Traditionally, a few days before a visit, a box containing a name card (tie) with the purpose of the visit will be delivered to the person’s estate. If the tie is not rejected that the meeting will go ahead, otherwise the box with the tie will be returned to the sender.
W180xD90xH130mm, China
This neat container has 2 compartments for storing tea leaves. Pewter has traditionally been material used the tea leaves storage, it is an alloy which oxidized more slowly then metal like iron or bronze and less reactive to the tea leaves which organic. Tea leaves is known to absorb the smell in the environment, pewter being an odorless also has an advantage over other materials. Last of all, it is easily shaped to create an air tight container.
DIA340xH100mm, China
This red lacquer box is part would have been part of the dowry item in a traditional Chinese wedding. In old China when the country is agricultural based, male is regarded as asset to the family with their labour and sadly , especially for the poor, female took on a minimal role in society. It is said that a wealthy family their daughter is married off, a commoner’s daughter would be given away at the marriage and a poor man would have his daughter sold. Wary of how the daughter’s life would be when she enters the groom’s family, the bride’s family would try their best to come up with an elaborate list of dowry so to ensure the status of their daughter in the new home and that she would not be seen as “sold”. It so extensive that the production of the dowry would be categorized into wood work, carving work, lacquer work, box and bucket work and costume making. In the morning of the wedding day, a team would set out from the groom to the brides house, after noon time, the team would return with the bride and the dowry procession. For the riches, the dowry would be a full procession which goes on for miles.
This lacquer box is for storing confectionery.
W50XD40XH70mm, China
This copper-nickle silver boxes are used in the late Qing dynasty for storing opium. On the top of the box is a button for releasing the cover and also for attaching a string which can be tied to the waist. The boxes are well used and worn, as if they were something treasured by the owner. Knowing the history, its kind of sad looking at them, but at the same time they are a sharp reminder of what drugs can do to a person and a country.
DIA400xH150mm, China
This is a bamboo weave box normally used for storing small items and for keeping offerings. The lacquer coating on the interior makes the box more air tight. The lacquer on the gives the opportunity for gold line decorative painting to be drawn on top if any.
DIA300xH140mm, China
This wooden box is made out of single piece of wood, with the void area taken out using a lathe. The wood would be fixed and mounted, with the spindle (a spinning mechanism powered by foot paddle in the old days), it is spinned around on axial. The wood is then hollowed out with a tool held against the spinning piece of wood.
W100xL230xH100mm, China
A lacquer box with painted dragon and phoenix which comes with 2 levels and 3 circular compartments. This is probably a box for storing small incense but our customers found it to be a good idea to use it for storing stationary.
W70xL140xH50mm, China
Dont be mislead by the tabloid title, this is in fact a piece of stationary, a copper box for keeping seals and seal paste. In China seal was the form of identification, a bit like the rubber stamp which is officially recognized. The seal of the Emperor would represent the Emperor himself. In the old days, most people will at least own a set of personal seal, but for artist and intellectuals they will own also a leisure set and a studio set, for each set there will be a collection of a seals. There are a long culture for seals; the stone, the text, the design and the craftsmanship are all refined and specialized.
W110xL80xH50mm, China
This box is entirely made out of bamboo, even using the natural cross section of the bamboo to create this pattern.
Mountain Folkcraft 