Other Curio in National Palace Museum, part2

Welcome to the National Palace Museum's collection of Other Curios! Here you can explore some of the most interesting artifacts from China's imperial past. We have a variety of different items on display here, including a pair of Bovet pocket watches with pearls and painted enamel, ivory balls of nested concentric layers with human figures in openwork relief, a silver raft cup of Zhang Qian Riding a Raft with the mark of Zhu Bishan and a cloisonne box with lotus decoration. These pieces are all unique and tell us about the culture and craftsmanship of the time period. Come take a look at these fascinating artifacts today!

1. Pair of "Bovet" pocket watches with pearls and painted enamel

Since being brought to China during the Ming and Qing eras, western clocks and watches have been held in high esteem. They were originally only owned by the imperial court, government officials, and merchant class, but eventually became an important medium for cultural interaction between China and the west during the modern era.

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

This set of movable openwork ivory balls is made up of 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.

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

This silver cup is in the shape of a raft, inspired by the story of Han dynasty explorer Zhang Qian. Zhang Qian is said to have ridden a raft down the Yellow River to trace its source. He eventually travelled to the Milky Way, where he met the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.

4. Cloisonne Box with Lotus Decoration

This lotus cloisonné box is made of filigree work on a copper body. The flat lid is decorated with lotus blossoms and pods. The sides of both the box and lid are curved to look like lotus petals.