Skip to main content
Collections Menu
SAM'S collection
Photo: Paul Macapia
Covered box
Photo: Paul Macapia

Covered box

Date18th century
Label TextThis box’s turquoise glaze and gilded spiral patterns imitate gilt bronze cloisonné vessels. The illusion continues in the gilded interior, made to look like unoxidized bronze. The Qianlong emperor was fond of art objects that dazzled but also fooled the eyes—an example of how imperial passions pushed porcelain technology to create new forms, glazes, and applications. The Imperial Ware Factory’s superintendent supervised the design, finance, production, and transportation of tens of thousands of top-quality pieces for the palace from the porcelain center of Jingdezhen.
Object number73.5
Photo CreditPhoto: Paul Macapia
Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Porcelain Stories: From China to Europe, Feb. 17 - May 7, 2000. Seattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Boundless: Stories of Asian Art, Feb. 8, 2020 - ongoing.Published ReferencesEmerson Julie, Jennifer Chen, and Mimi Gardner Gates, "Porcelain Stories, From China to Europe", Seattle Art Museum, 2000, pg. 245 Foong, Ping, Xiaojin Wu, and Darielle Mason. "An Asian Art Museum Transformed." Orientations vol. 51, no. 3 (May/June 2020): pp. 56-57, reproduced fig. 16.
Credit LinePurchased in memory of the E. K. Bishop and Lillian Bishop Family
Dimensions3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm), height 6 3/8 in. (16.2 cm), diameter 3 13/16 in. (9.7 cm), overall height
MediumPorcelain with turquoise glaze and gilt
Photo: Elizabeth Mann
Chinese
1522-66
Object number: 44.176
Chinese
probably 18th century
Object number: 35.572
Chinese
probably 18th century
Object number: 35.573
Chinese
4th–3rd century BCE
Object number: 49.99
Chinese
4th–3rd century BCE
Object number: 49.101
Photo: Elizabeth Mann
Chinese
4th-3rd century BCE
Object number: 46.95
Belt hook
Chinese
ca. 450-221 B.C.
Object number: 52.58
Vase
Chinese
16th century
Object number: 33.52
Waterpot
Chinese
1662-1722
Object number: 53.23
Chinese
1279-1368
Object number: 88.125
Photo: Paul Macapia
Chinese
18th century
Object number: 65.60
Photo: Paul Macapia
Chinese
12th century
Object number: 44.100