Octagonal box with “dragon pine”
Not on view
The designer of this box transformed the pine tree into a fanciful dragon, symbol of the emperor. This combination probably expressed a wish that the emperor live as long as the pine, an emblem of longevity. The box was made with the same technique as the adjacent dragon dish, and they bear identical dated marks, which implies that they were made in the same imperial workshop, if not by the same hands.
This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.