Magnificent Chinese Boxes of the Past

March 28 – July 30, 2009

The exhibit, Magnificent Chinese Boxes of the Past, featured a collection of finely crafted boxes from the Qing dynasty.

In a country where imperial officials and wealthy merchants long cherished the finest calligraphy, lavish silks and exquisite porcelain, it is easy to overlook more utilitarian treasures like these ornate boxes. Each one is uniquely crafted for a specific use: to carry a workingman’s lunch, a lady’s makeup, a scholar’s calligraphy tools or any number of treasures great or small. This exhibit features boxes skillfully crafted from materials such as carved wood, lacquer, bamboo, and leather. The museum would like to express a special thanks to the County Supervisor, Ron Roberts. His efforts to obtain a grant from the County enabled SDCHM to purchase the historical artifacts for this display of Chinese boxes from the Qing dynasty.