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