Antique Chinese Cinnabar Lacquer Round Box with Character for Spring (Chun) and God of Longevity (Shoulao) middle eastern predominately black and white pattern

predominately black and white pattern

These charming

The vase measures 10 3/4" tall with a diameter of 4 3/4" at base

until I noted that the numbers on the side run 0 to 6 rather than showing temperatures

Antique Chinese Cinnabar Lacquer Round Box with Character for Spring (Chun) and God of Longevity (Shoulao) middle eastern predominately black and white patternThis lovely, finely carved antique Chinese cinnabar box features a large representation of the character for spring (chun, an allusion to long life), and a small image of Shoulao, the god of longevity, on its face, with an overflowing bowl below it set against a background of radiating rainbows. This "bowl of treasures" design apparently first appeared in the 16th century, but became famous and more complicated when an extraordinary series of boxes