| Culture: | Chinese
| | Title: | box
| | Date Made: | ca. 1850
| | Type: | Personal Equipment
| | Materials: | lacquerware, pith paper, gilding, watercolors, gouache, ivory, textile: silk; base metal
| | Place Made: | China; Canton (probably)
| | Measurements: | overall: 13 5/8 in.; 34.6075 cm
| | Accession Number: | HD 71.007.2
| | Museum Collection: | Historic Deerfield
|
|
|
Description:
Chinese export rectangular red lacquerware box with a shaped edge along the hinged lid and the two long sides, which was made to hold the fan, HD 71.007.1. Fans proved to be the most popular souvenirs brought home from the China trade; Chinese artisans manufactured thousands of them composed of a variety of materials for shipment to Europe and America. These items became an important fashion accessory for ladies in the 19th century, and many were customized with monograms and inscriptions. The top of the lid of this box has the faded name "Concepcion Vallanil de Blanco," possibly for a Spanish, Portuguese, Mexican, or South American individual who ordered the fan and this original box, which is also found on the reverse side of the fan. The box exterior is covered overall with dark red lacquer decorated with gilt foliate sprays; the top includes floral sprays on both ends and an elaborate border. The interior lid has a Chinese scene painted on silk in green, blue, purple, orange, and white, on a red ground, which shows a man and woman, each holding a fan, flanking a young man seated under a tree in a garden landscape. The is a fan-shaped inset in the box to hold the fan in place.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+71.007.2 |
