1. (J.A.P., 1951) Said by the dealer to have come from Ch'ang-sha, Hunan.
The center of the cover has a knob through which passes a loose ring. This forms the center of a quatrefoil design between the points of which are two identical birds and two identical animals in alternate positions. Around this is a slightly concave plain band from which a step down of about 1/2mm. leads to concentric bands of tall sawtooth pattern and small diamond pattern. A similar stepup leads to another plain concave band going down to the edge. The sawtooth pattern is repeated on the vertical side of the cover. The upper part of the box itself is decorated with two narrow plain bands separated by a band of diamond pattern. This latter is interrupted at one point by a plain panel 1-7/8" long in which is incised a single animal of the same type as the two on top of the cover. This third animal is so placed that his upper back, neck and head are on the lower part of the vertical edge of the cover; and the cover fits properly when the upper and lower halves of the animal are conjoined. The main decoration of the body is a wide band of blunt, vertical leaf-like elements with feathered edges in four overlapping layers; each leaf has an axial line headed with a scroll-like top member suggesting a fancy lance or arrow head. Below this are plain band, diamond band, plain band, sawtooth and plain band in that order.
2. (J. Smith per Keith Wilson, 7/1/2008) Container added as secondary classification
3. (S. Kitsoulis, 3 May 2010 per Keith Wilson) Title changed from "Cylindrical covered box (lien)" to "Box with cover (lian)."
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