Grand Elegant Hall Treasure Box with Swastika Pattern, Blessed with Abundant Blessings, Made of Rosewood and Inlaid with Jade, Qianlong Period

Vessel Type: Qianlong Treasure Box

Artist: dayatang

Material: Dalbergia cochinchinensis

Specifications : Length : 27cm, Width : 27cm, Overall height : 15.5cm

This scholar's box is made of rosewood, its color a rich, deep red, adorned with jade inlays. The entire piece is meticulously crafted, featuring a delicate meander pattern as the background. The center of the lid is inlaid with two facing bats in jade, divided by a large swastika pattern. A pair of bats and a swastika form a decorative motif at the four corners, symbolizing "boundless blessings." The body of the box is decorated with two stylized meander patterns, signifying "eternal continuity." The four sides feature drawers, each divided into small compartments, with each drawer's knob also decorated with a swastika pattern. The entire piece embodies the opulent style of the Qianlong era and can be used to store small scholar's objects. The stand and box can be stacked and rotated, a clever design that makes it a practical and aesthetically pleasing piece.

The swastika pattern is the key design element of this piece.

Originating from pre‑historic civilizations, the swastika is a timeless auspicious symbol. It is the sacred mark on the chest of Buddha. Swastika motifs have been unearthed on pottery from Mesopotamia in West Asia, dating back to around 5000 BCE. In China, the swastika pattern can be traced to the Majiayao Culture over 4,000 years ago. It was also widely popular in Europe and frequently appeared in early Christian and Byzantine art. In Sanskrit, swastika means “the collection of all auspiciousness”.