Embellished Pearl Brocade Box

The original artefact depicted in this illustration is a rhombus-shaped box with mugwort leaf and talisman patterns, made in the late 18th century during the Qianlong reign. The box measures 2.5 cm in height and 8 cm in diameter, and is currently housed in the Museum of Chinese University of Hong Kong.The box is coated with red enamel, and the lid is adorned with patterns of the Five Poisons—centipede, snake, toad, scorpion, and spider—interspersed with lotus flowers, mugwort, peach fruits, water chestnuts, and lotus root sections.