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 items on display here, including a Brush Holder with Letter-reading Scene, Ch'in (Chinese unfretted zither), 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, Carved bamboo root carving of a well-wishing horse and monkey, Ivory balls of nested concentric layers with human figures in openwork relief, Silver raft cup of "Zhang Qian Riding a Raft" with the mark of Zhu Bishan, Copper-body Painted Enamel Snuff Bottle with a Maki-e Floral Lacquer Inlay and Glass-body Painted Enamel Snuff Bottle in the Shape of a Bamboo Section. Come take a look at these incredible artifacts today!

1. Brush Holder with Letter-reading Scene

A piece of bamboo has been made into a brush holder, with a flat mouth and the dividing part of the bamboo as the bottom. The outside is carved with the image of a lady with an elegant hairstyle standing before a screen reading a handscroll.

2. Ch'in (Chinese unfretted zither)

The zither is an ancient Chinese instrument with strings. Zithers from different parts of China can have different styles.

3. Cloisonne censer in the form of a wild duck

Enamelwork is a decorative craft that involves adorning a metal surface with a vitreous glaze and firing it. One of the earliest enamelwork techniques is cloisonné, which involves creating compartments (known as "cloisons") on the metal surface using thin copper wires, filling

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

This inkstone is carved from a single piece of Tuan River stone. The top of the stone on the reverse side is slightly damaged. The ink well is carved with a cloud-and-dragon design. The four sides of the inkstone are decorated with geometric decorations.

5. Round Box with Peony Decor Filled-In Lacquerware

This is a summary of a thesis. The thesis is about the importance of education. Education is important because it helps people learn new things and develop new skills. It also helps people understand the world around them.

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

This carving of a bamboo root shows a horse and a monkey sitting on its back. The monkey is holding a peach, which symbolizes "immediate conferral of a high-ranking position." This carving was originally kept in a treasure box.

7. Ivory balls of nested concentric layers with human figures in openwork relief

This set of movable ivory balls nested in concentric layers comprises four main parts: a dragon fish hook, two ladies-in-waiting carved in the round, a set of hollow nested concentric balls, and a pendant depicting the Heavenly Twins of Conjugal Felicity.

8. Silver raft cup  of "Zhang Qian Riding a Raft" with the mark of Zhu Bishan

This silver raft cup is based on the story of Zhang Qian of the Han dynasty. Zhang Qian is said to have ridden a raft to trace the source of the Yellow River. He eventually traveled to the Milky Way, where he met the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.

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

This snuff bottle has a decorative style that combines East and West. The panel in the center of the bottle represents plum blossoms painted in gold lacquer, which was a popular style in European markets.

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