Not currently on display at the V&A

Box

ca. 1790-1810 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This work box held sewing tools or similar accessories. It was made in China for export to Europe rather than for the home market. The carving is in high relief and looks rather crowded, a typical feature of Chinese decorative art of the later 18th century and early 19th. The monogram on the cover reads 'CSB'.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 13 parts.

  • Document
  • Document
  • Game
  • Tray
  • Lid
  • Lid
  • Lid
  • Lid
  • Lid
  • Lid
  • Lid
  • Lid
  • Box
Materials and techniques
Carved ivory
Brief description
Carved ivory box, Guangzhou, China, ca. 1790-1810
Physical description
Box made of carved ivory, interior fitted with a removable tray divided into thirteen compartments, some with hinged lids. All these carry knobs in the form of various fruits. The carving is done in high relief cut back to a translucent ground, showing figural decoration with boats, musicians, jugglers and lion dancers. The cover and one side carry the monogram 'CSB'.
Dimensions
  • Box and lid both same width width: 36cm
  • Box with lid height: 11cm
  • Box and lid same depth depth: 27cm
  • Lid height: 2.9cm
  • Box caseing excluding fastenings of interior boxes height: 8.4cm
Style
Credit line
Ingle Bequest
Object history
Bequeathed by Mrs. Ingle, accessioned in 1892. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
From RF MA/1/I135: According to Maria Ingle's will, this carved ivory box was brought by her father from China and is carved with her mother's initials C. S. B. It was kept by her sister Harriett Browne and after her decease it was kept by Maria Ingle who bequeathed it to the V&A.;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Historical context
This is a work box to hold sewing tools or similar accessories, made in China for export rather than the home market.
Summary
This work box held sewing tools or similar accessories. It was made in China for export to Europe rather than for the home market. The carving is in high relief and looks rather crowded, a typical feature of Chinese decorative art of the later 18th century and early 19th. The monogram on the cover reads 'CSB'.
Bibliographic reference
Chinese Ivories from the Shang to the Qing, London: OCS and British Museum, 1984, no. 260.
Collection
Accession number
1769:1 to 13-1892

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Record createdFebruary 6, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest