Andy M Posted October 23, 2012 at 11:22 AM Report Share Posted October 23, 2012 at 11:22 AM Hello everyone! I recently found a small lacquer box up for sale at a flea market for a few bucks. It is pretty attractive and it seems to be handmade and pretty old, so I grabbed it and am trying to find out as much as possible about it. As in the pictures below, there is a brass plate with an inscription on the bottom of the box. Knowing nothing about this, I've been poring over internet archives for quite a bit, but only found a match for the "da" character, or at least I think so, as I'm not even sure it is Chinese. Anyone able to help me out on the meaning of this? Or any other interesting info on this little trinket? Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members lindashao Posted October 23, 2012 at 02:14 PM New Members Report Share Posted October 23, 2012 at 02:14 PM Hi, I am a Chinese. The totem in the box is Dragon, which is the symbol of imperial power. Those characters may be 大清乾隆玉玺 or 大清乾隆主契. It means this article was used by Qianlong, one of the greatest emperors in Qing dynasty. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creamyhorror Posted October 23, 2012 at 05:26 PM Report Share Posted October 23, 2012 at 05:26 PM It's Chinese seal script, but I can't read it. It does look interesting and authentic, though...probably not something mass-manufactured, as you said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imron Posted October 23, 2012 at 09:17 PM Report Share Posted October 23, 2012 at 09:17 PM It means this article was used by Qianlong Or more likely, it's a reproduction and wasn't used by Qianlong at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted October 24, 2012 at 01:30 AM Report Share Posted October 24, 2012 at 01:30 AM I suppose it says 大清乾隆年製 (made during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty). The last character looks a bit strange but from context it has to be it. There is of course no guarantee that it is genuine. But the lid is quite pretty. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy M Posted October 24, 2012 at 08:19 AM Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2012 at 08:19 AM Well, that's quite interesting. The box is pretty old and has definitely been through a lot, including likely a long stay in a kitchen, as there are a couple depressions left by some hot implement and cereal hulls had become stuck to the bottom, likely due to it sitting on a hot surface. Unlikely as it is, it would be quite funny if it turned out to have such noble origins after all this, heh! There's also some old label stuck to the inside, I haven't removed it not to damage the coating underneath. Obviously there's a number assigned to it, and maybe a date? Couldn't quite say what it is, really. Whom do you think I could press for more information on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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