IMPERIAL, PROBABLY PALACE WORKSHOPS, 1800-1850

The popularity of baskets in general at the Court may arise from the symbolism of the basket (lanzi) which may suggest male children (nanzi), one of the three desires dear to the Chinese heart which are embodied in the term sanduo ('three plenties'). These are, duofu ('plenty of happiness'), duoshou ('plenty of years to live') and duonanzi ('plenty of male children').