Chinese Boxes

More than just your typical storage box, Chinese boxes of brass, wood, or porcelain were used since the Qing Dynasty to give gifts, store jewelry, and contain important documents and other personal items. Some boxes were made of hand-painted and glazed white porcelain, or of metal that featured detailed engravings, but boxes were most commonly made of wood.

Wood boxes can be found coated in lacquer, even inlaid with precious stones, other types of wood, or mother of pearl to give extra emphasis to the flamboyant designs on the surface of the box. Metal hinges and clasps are commonly added to attach a lid to the box, and sometimes brass is added to the edges as an extra decorative detail. Boxes can also be made of silver, jade, ivory, or copper.

Chinese boxes come in all different shapes as well. While many are in the traditional rectangular shape, some are given circular, hexagonal shapes, or even octagonal shapes. All are purposefully ornamented to give the exterior an elegant appearance.

Quick Facts

• Brass and copper boxes are great for storing cigars. These metal boxes are typically decorated in the French cloisonne style using enamel as a paste, and inlaying precious stones or colored glass
• Lacquer is applied to these boxes in many layers. A box needs at least 30 coats. Some boxes have been coated with up to 300 layers of lacquer before completion, and each layer needs to be dried between coats
• Lacquer is made from the sap of the Rhus Vernicifera tree, which is a close relative to poison ivy. This sap is highly toxic