A CHINESE HUANGHUALI BOX WITH INSET PORCELAIN PLAQUES

18TH CENTURY

Each facet with a rectangular blue and white plaque painted with houses, pagodas, and figures on boats in a mountainous watery landscape, the box with a hinged cover and moveable metal handles to two sides, the interior with a lift-out tray divided into six sections, 18cm x 31cm x 22cm. (2)

Provenance: formerly in the collection of Supercargo Peter Fenger (1688-1737), who made many trips to China, where he bought this box. In this photograph taken in 1935, the box can be seen on the table between his descendants Anna and Frederik Hjort. The box was known in the family as the Fengerske box.

Cf. J Wirgin, Fran Kina til Europa, colour pl.242, for a similar box with blue and white river landscape panels where it is called 'teskrin' and dated c.1700.

Literature: Frederik Hjort, Mit livs begivenheder, 1935, p.279.