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Engraved Chinese Paktong and Enamel Opium Box, Qing browse these categories for related items... All Items: Archives:Regional Art:Asian:Chinese: Pre 1900: item # 640990 Please refer to our stock # 15-219 when inquiring.
B & C Antiques P. O. Box 291 Derby, CT 06418 203-929-7312 Guest Book SOLD |
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This most unusual oblong Chinese paktong (“pai-tung”) opium box is decorated with designs of roundels containing auspicious symbols. Qing Dynasty, ca. 1860-1880. The details are both incised and carved away, with the recessed portions enameled in dark blue. The interior is sheathed in copper. An important part of the paraphernalia connected with opium smoking was the opium box, which was used to hold the gummy substance. Opium boxes are small in size, usually round or oblong in shape. With few exceptions, they have deep pull-off covers which tend to fit quite tightly over the inner flange. They were manufactured, for the most part, from the late-18th to the early 20th century. (A paktong opium box with similar blue enameling is illustrated in Figure 89 of the book “Chinese Opium Boxes: H. J. Eiley Collection” by Catherine Pagani. This book features opium boxes from the extensive personal collection donated to and displayed in the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada.) The alloy paktong also has a fascinating history. Centuries before nickel was isolated in the west, the Chinese had produced an alloy of zinc, copper and nickel which had the lustrous sheen and color tone of silver, was appreciably harder than silver, and did not tarnish in use. Many examples of this alloy have a particularly pleasing color which is silver bright but possesses what has been termed a “soul of gold.” For additional information about paktong, see our article in ARTS OF ASIA, Nov/Dec. 1992. CONDITION is excellent. DIMENSIONS: 2” (5 cm) high, 2” (5 cm) wide, 1” (2.5 cm) deep. |
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