Precious Spring Longevity Box
The Qianlong emperor commissioned at least eighteen versions of this box. He especially valued the design on the top: a large representation of the character for spring (chun, an allusion to long life), and a small image of Shoulao, the god of longevity. The character and the overflowing bowl below it are set against a background of radiating rainbows. The bowl of treasures motif first appeared in carved lacquer in the sixteenth century; it was incorporated into this more complicated program of imagery during the reign of Qianlong.
Artwork Details
- 清乾隆 剔彩春壽寶盒
- Title: Precious Spring Longevity Box
- Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Qianlong period (1736–95)
- Date: 1736–1795
- Culture: China
- Medium: Carved red, green, and yellow lacquer
- Dimensions: Diam. 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm)
- Classification: Lacquer
- Credit Line: Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2015
- Object Number: 2015.500.1.93a, b
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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Accession Number: 29.100.358a, b
18th century
18th century
18th century
18th century
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