19th Century Chinese Famille Rose Box with blue tinted porcelain.

Weight: 2Lbs 15.4 Oz (empty)

Dimensions: 8 1/4 inches wide x 4 inches tall x 4 1/8 inches depth

Subtype: Rose Mandarin This box tells a story… Is this a Zhong Kui story?

I believe the scene depicts the Chinese mythological demon queller, Zhong Kui guarding the red gates.

Both Zhong Kui and his sister are wearing black boots and have pomegranate flowers in their hair.

Zhong Kui’s sword can be seen protruding from his coverings. He is squatting down and his hands are blurred.

He is receiving blessings/gifts down upon him from the Foo bat which is descending from the heavens. He then gives those blessings to the people.

Zhong Kui’s sister is seen ringing a bell and pointing the way to her brother.

An older woman, believed to be the Queen Mother of the West, wife of the Jade Emperor, wearing a Jade necklace and a dress with mulberry leaves, appears to be carrying two interlocked Lozenges. They play music.

The Queen Mother of the West is often pictured with two young women with her, and in this scene there are two young women rushing towards Zhong Kui to receive gifts.

I don’t know if the story I see when I look at this box is the actual story that was intended with this box. But, this box does not appear to display a scene made for export. It seems to be more congruent with being a box for people who would recognize and appreciate all which is happening.

There are bells on either left or right faces of the box.