1-234-552 - The Museum of East Asian Art/Heritage Images

Enamelled silver opium box, Qing dynasty, China, late 19th century. A small cylindrical opium box. The top of the cover has an inset low relief design of three figures in a domestic interior setting painted in coloured enamels principally turquoise and royal blue. The lower half has a wide band of Chinese motifs on black niello ground between two narrow key fret bands also on black enamel ground. The base has a three character mark of 'bao zhen ju'. Opium became a very desired and valuable substance in China in the early 19th century and to keep the opium in good condition, tightly fitting boxes were necessary for its storage.