Chinese Enameled Brass Box Dragon in Clouds circa 1900

 

The heavy brass lidded rectangular box has a simple wire pin hinge, and has been tooled with flowers and a scallop design. In the center of the lid is a raised rounded edged enamel panel with a repousse design of a five-clawed dragon in the clouds. The dragon is breathing fire on a beast in the waves below. The bass dragon is surrounded by white, red, green and blue glass enameling.

 

The raised panel may have been a repurposed item because it appears to hide some of the tooled design on the top of the lid. The box interior is lined with a reddish wood. The lid fits the base snugly. The box rests flat.

 

There is the mark CHINA in the center of the base.

 

4 7/8” (12.4 cm) wide x 4 ¼” (10.8 cm) deep x 2 ¼” (5.7 cm) tall. Weighs 14.7 oz (415 g)

 

CONDITION  

There are no dents, cracks, or breaks on the box body. There are small dents on the raised box edge in the center of the lid. There are oxidization spots on the brass and discoloration on the edge of the central box on the lid.  There are small losses to the enamels around the dragon on the lid. The interior has a small piece of wood missing and a drop of solder on one edge of a back corner. There is also a dark spot on the wood on the bottom of the interior.

 

The raised design of a dragon in the clouds on the lid elevates this old box to beyond the ordinary.  A nice heavy box to hold treasured small items.