Other Curio in National Palace Museum, part1

Welcome to the National Palace Museum's collection of curios! Here, you can explore some of the most unique and interesting artifacts from China's imperial past. We have a variety of different pieces on display here, including a Carved Bamboo Root Carving of a Well-Wishing Horse and Monkey, Glass Inside-Painted Snuff Bottle with a Traveling Scene, Copper-Body Painted Enamel Snuff Bottle with a Maki-e Floral Lacquer Inlay, Brush Holder with Letter-Reading Scene, Cloisonne Censer in the Form of a Wild Duck, Tuan Inkstone with Cloud-and-Dragon Decor and 99 Columns, Round Box with Peony Decor Filled-In Lacquerware, Ch'in (Chinese Unfretted Zither), Glass-Body Painted Enamel Snuff Bottle in the Shape of a Bamboo Section, and a Painted Enamel Vase with Dragons and Peony Decoration. Come take a look at these amazing artifacts today!

1. Carved bamboo root carving of a well-wishing horse and monkey

This carving of a bamboo root shows a horse reclining with a small monkey holding a peach on its back. The imagery symbolizes "immediate conferral of a high-ranking position". The carving was originally kept in a treasure box.

2. Glass Inside-Painted Snuff Bottle with a Traveling Scene

In the late 17th century, Western snuff and snuff containers entered China. At its peak, various Western countries and the Vatican in Rome often presented snuff and snuff containers as gifts to the court.

3. Copper-body Painted Enamel Snuff Bottle with a Maki-e Floral Lacquer Inlay

This snuff bottle has a decorative style that combines elements from both East and West. The central panel features plum blossoms painted in gold lacquer, in the Japanese style of maki-e.

4. Brush Holder with Letter-reading Scene

A brush holder has been carved out of a piece of bamboo. The outside is carved with the image of a lady reading a handscroll. Another lady is seen hiding behind the screen. The artist paid attention to the composition and carving.

5. Cloisonne censer in the form of a wild duck

Enamelwork is a decorative craft that involves decorating the surface of a metal body with a vitreous glaze and then firing it. Cloisonné is one of the earliest enamelwork techniques, which involves creating compartments (known as "cloisons") on the surface of the metal body

6. Tuan Inkstone with Cloud-and-Dragon Decor and 99 Columns

This inkstone is carved from a single piece of Tuan River stone. The color of the stone is greyish-black, and there are yellowish-green eyes with brownish-yellow points in the center on the reverse side.

7. Round Box with Peony Decor Filled-In Lacquerware

The article "The Evolution of the American Dream" discusses how the American Dream is changing. The article discusses how the American Dream is no longer about owning a house, but about being able to live in a place that is safe and has good schools.

8. Ch'in (Chinese unfretted zither)

The "ch'in," or zither, is an ancient Chinese stringed instrument. It has been around for centuries and its appearance has changed over time. There are also stylistic differences observable in "ch'in" made from different locations and makers in China.

9. Glass-body Painted Enamel Snuff Bottle in the Shape of a Bamboo Section

This enamelware piece from the Yongzheng reign is characterized by its panels in a full composition, traditional bird-and-flower painting as subject matter, colorful background, and inscriptions in panels of auspicious shapes.

10. Painted enamel vase with dragons and peony decoration