Vintage Chinese Hand-Carved Round Cinnabar Lacquer Trinket Box: Peony of Prosperity

This exquisite Vintage Chinese Cinnabar Lacquer Box is a truly exceptional piece, offering a deep connection to traditional Chinese art and symbolism. Crafted with painstaking detail, it is a stunning piece of Asian decor and a treasured collectible.

Product Details & Craftsmanship

A Story in Cinnabar and Carving

This piece is more than a box; it's a testament to a centuries-old luxury art form:

• The Royal Color of Fortune: The deep, rich color comes from Cinnabar, a mineral ground into a powder to create the distinct vermillion hue. In Chinese culture, red is the most significant color, symbolizing happiness, good fortune, vitality, and celebration. This makes the box a potent symbol of auspicious good wishes.
• Intricate Layered Art: This is a genuine example of Carved Lacquer (Diaoqi), an incredibly time-consuming technique that involves applying dozens of thin layers of the lacquer mix, allowing each to dry, and then meticulously carving the relief design into the hardened surface. This intensive process made such cinnabar pieces a luxury item historically reserved for the Imperial court and the elite.
• Striking Contrast: The rich red is dramatically offset by the vivid black enamel/lacquer interior, a classic pairing in traditional Chinese lacquerware that highlights the artistry of the exterior carving.

Symbolism of the Peony Motif

The box's cover features a beautiful, high-relief carving of a Peony flower (Muˇdan), a motif rich with meaning:

• "King of Flowers": The Peony holds an exalted place as the "King of Flowers" (Huaˉ Waˊng) in Chinese culture.
• Prosperity and Honor: Its full, luxurious blooms are the ultimate symbol of wealth, prosperity, and high social status (Fuˋ Guıˋ).
• Versatile Decor: Perfect for storing small items like jewelry or keepsakes, this box blends timeless artistry with function, serving as a powerful and elegant decorative accent in any living room, library, or collector's display.