Boxes

Date1800s

Terms

Boxes
Lacquer
China

Dimensions30.46 × 20.31 × 15.23 cm (12 × 8 × 6 in.)

Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. Roger Swaim

Object numberF2067

DescriptionFine lacquered box. Evidently used as sewing box, but was probably not intended for that purpose. Box stands on gilded winged dragon feet (one broken off). The lid locks with a key (stored in top compartment). Decorated with Chinese garden scenes, surrounded by flowers and leaves. Top compartment is lacquered plain black. Deep fitted (removable) tray with three narrow compartments at the right, a center section, and at left a covered compartment, the cover of which is decorated with a Chinese figure and a spray of grasses, leaves, and flowers, and has a small ivory knob. In the covered compartment are the following: a small red velvet pin cushion in a carved ivory holder; a carved ivory spool; an emery cushion in a carved mother-of-pearl drum; a carved ivory punch; carved mother-of-pearl ornament; small metal winder for silk; carved bone heart locket; two small carved mother-of-pearl silk winders and two larger ones; bundle of heavy pink thread; two gilded pieces of plaster (possibly part of the broken legs?). There is a shallow drawer in the lower part of the box which locks with a key and holds: pair of Chinese chopsticks; piece of black carved molding; four pieces of wood; postcard addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. Joseph S. Swaim" from Union Baptist Church (dated February 25, 1887).