Chinese Lacquered Cinnabar Spring Box. Circular Chinese cinnabar lacquer "Spring" box, ornately carved with a large central chun (spring) character surrounded by dragons and symbols of longevity over a detailed landscape scene.

Size: 14 x 14 x 5 in. 

Chinese spring box (often called “spring boxes” in the West) are traditional tiered containers from China, typically made of wood and finished with lacquer, used for storing and transporting food, sewing items, or personal belongings. The name is thought to relate to their association with renewal and celebration—especially during festivals like Chinese New Year—when they were filled with sweets, pastries, or symbolic foods and given as gifts. Their stacked, lidded design made them practical for carrying multiple items while keeping them neatly separated, and many examples feature hand-painted or carved decoration, sometimes incorporating auspicious motifs like flowers, birds, or longevity symbols. Antique examples can be quite collectible today, while later versions were produced more simply for everyday household use.

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