Lot Essay
See J. Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing, no.29:11, for the small domed box and cover from the Hotung Collection. The author explains that boxes have always been an important utensil in Chinese ..... the fine ones held precious personal possessions, such as mirrors and toilet accessories (ibid.). The present pair of boxes is formed from high quality stone, of unusual evenness of tone and translucency of material, suggesting that they too had an expensive function as holders of luxury cosmetics or precious objects; appreciation of the stone is enhanced by the completely undecorated surfaces, precise hollowing to a sophisticated thinness, and elegant simplicity of domed form.