Curio in National Palace Museum, Qing dynasty (1644-1911) part1

Welcome to the National Palace Museum's collection of curios from the Qing dynasty! Here you will find a variety of fascinating artifacts, such as a Planter with a coral carving of the planetary deity Kuixing, a Gilt Flint Case with Coral-and-Turquoise Inlay, a Bamboo Water Container in the Shape of a Lotus Leaf, a Champleve Box with Filigree Work, an Ivory Four-tiered Food-Carrying Case in Openwork Relief, a Meat-shaped Stone, a Set of Square Maki-e Lacquer Boxes decorated with Cherry Blossom Designs, a Ganlan Olive Stone Miniature Boat with the Ode to the Red Cliff Carved on the Bottom, a Pair of Gilded Bronze Pocket Watches Decorated with Painted Enamel and a Gold Mandala with Turquoise Inlay. Come explore these incredible artifacts today and discover the amazing history behind them!

1. Planter with a coral carving of the planetary deity Kuixing

This was a popular planter display in the Qing dynasty court. The deity is accompanied by accessories such as fluttering sashes, and holds a representation of the Big Dipper and a branch of plum blossoms.

2. Gilt flint case with coral-and-turquoise inlay (with carved lacquer box and Qianlong reign mark)

This gold gilt rectangular box-shaped case has thin iron plates inlaid at the bottom. When you release the coral knob at the top, you can open the case to reveal a long, narrow interior container made of thin gold plate. This is where the flint and tinder were stored.

3. Bamboo Water Container in the Shape of a Lotus Leaf, with signature of Zhu Sansong

The root of a bamboo has been carved here into the shape of a lotus leaf.

4. Champleve Box with Filigree Work

The box is decorated with gold filaments and colorful enamelware. The enamelware is used to highlight the gold filaments, giving the box a lustrous appearance.

5. Ivory Four-tiered Food-Carrying Case in Openwork Relief

This handled food container is divided into four levels, into which different kinds of food can be placed. The carving is very refined, with the main part carved delicately in openwork from an ivory panel, which was inlaid into the frame.

6. Meat-shaped Stone

The "Meat-shaped stone" was carved from jasper minerals. The natural layered patterns were used by the artist to create the appearance of pork skin marinated in soy sauce.

7. Set of Square Maki-e Lacquer Boxes, Decorated with Cherry Blossom Designs

This small set of Japanese lacquered boxes includes three small boxes and a shallow dish. It was used as a curio box for objects in the Qing dynasty, which explains why a small jade object is found stored in each of the small boxes.

8. Ganlan Olive Stone Miniature Boat with the Ode to the Red Cliff Carved on the Bottom

Chen Zuzhang was originally from Guandong and had already entered the Imperial Bureau of Manufacture during the Yongzheng reign. In 1737, he carved a small boat out of an olive pit. On the boat are eight figures, each with their own unique expression.

9. Pair of Gilded Bronze Pocket Watches Decorated with Painted Enamel

In the middle of the 18th century, the center for the production of pocket watches was in London. This pair of pocket watches not only testifies to Sino-Western exchange, but is also a marvel of mechanical and artistic craftsmanship.

10. Gold Mandala with Turquoise Inlay