Antique Chinese Stationary Box, Qing Period

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Description

Title: Antique Chinese Stationary Box.
Origin: China.
Period: 1870s, Qing Period.
Maker: Unknown.
Material: Wood.

Description: Offered is an impressive … Read more Title: Antique Chinese Stationary Box.
Origin: China.
Period: 1870s, Qing Period.
Maker: Unknown.
Material: Wood.

Description: Offered is an impressive and intricately carved solid wood stationary box with fitted interior, circa 1870s. Features a relief carved four-clawed Quilong dragon theme accented with floral motifs, characters and symbols, and bats. The intricately carved frame and borders are nothing less than superb. The slanted doors, with lock mechanism, open to a 5 slotted compartment, features relief carved panels opposite storage, a pen tray, and at bottom, a concealed storage drawer.

Measures: 15.5 W x 8.25 D x 13.5 H inches.

About the piece: During the Zhou dynasty, the five-clawed dragon was assigned to the Son of Heaven and represents, the four-clawed to the nobles., represents the bloodline. The style of this piece is typical of artisan objects fashioned for the imperial nobility and certain high-ranking officials during the late Qing dynasty (1644-1911). A well carved example.

Chinese Mythology - Dragons and their Importance: Of note, the Chinese believed that their dragons started with five claws because they were the most superior. Not only do the number of claws tell the difference between the status of the people and dragons, but also the surrounding Asian cultures; e.g Korean dragons have four claws, Japanese dragons have three claws. The symbol of dragons are also widely used during the Chinese holidays. During the Chinese New Year, dragon dances are performed for the audience to enjoy. The people hope that the dancing will bring them favorable weather, luck, and drive away evil spirits for the new coming year (China Highlights, Chinese Dragons). The making of both the structure of the dragon and choreography of the dance is also thought out thoroughly. The dragons can be made into different forms such as the cloth dragon, grass dragon, fire dragon, bamboo dragon, and wooden dragon. The longer the dragon and dance, the better luck it will bring for the new year. Therefore, the custom goes on.

Dragon theme: Qiulong, the "curling dragon", is a member of the horned dragons whom are considered to be the mightiest dragons across the globe. They are renowned for their physical might and fire-power which are said to exceed that of many other common dragons that traverse the Earth.
Because of their might, Qiulong is tasked with safeguarding sacred relics and objects from deadly intruders as well as even aiding in stabilizing continental shifts to keep islands and countries from collapsing into ruin.
Because of this, they are most likely to be found beneath the strata of the planet rather than above it and rarely do they ever emerge from their domain, only during times where they are called to the task that suits them and one that is in need of their physical attributes.

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