[posts
in this series are to introduce objects on display in the exhibition "the
Forbidden City: Inside Court of China's Emperor" at Royal Ontario Museum,
March 8 - September 1, 2014; and at Vancouver Art Gallery Oct 18, 2014 - Jan,
2015]
Treasure box
紫檀百寶嵌三多紋書式盒
Inlaid Sandalwood
Qing dynasty
The Palace Museum, Gu122686
This is one of the rarest and most exquisite treasure boxes from the
Forbidden City.
When closed, this box
looked like any other, decorated to resemble a book. But inside, Emperor
Qianlong hid some of his most prized small treasures. Multiple compartments,
some hidden away themselves in the box’s many layers, created a more intimate
display than wall shelves. This type of treasure box (duobaoge 多寶格) was one of Qianlong’s favorite items.
