Two-tiered lacquer toiletry case with nine small boxes- Hunan Museum
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Two-tiered lacquer toiletry case with nine small boxes
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Medium:Lacquer
Date:Western Han (206 BCE-9 CE)

Dimensions:Height: 20.8cm; max diameter: 35.2cm

Origin: Excavated from Han Tomb No.1, Mawangdui, Changsha City, Hunan Province,1972

The bodies of the lid and the box are made of hemp cloth, while the bottom is shaped by hewing. The box consists of two layers: an upper layer containing mitts and a silk scarf, and a lower one containing nine small boxes, which hold white powder, paints, rouge, a wig, a powder puff, a fine-toothed comb and a brush. The exterior of the box is decorated with a painted cloud design.


This two-tiered lacquer toiletry case is uniquely wonderful in design, especially for the nine cavities chiseled out of the bottom, which is rarely seen in the lacquer-ware of Han Dynasty.


With such manufacture crafts as lacquer painting, oil painting, gilding and embroidery, the case is complicatedly and exquisitely decorated with various patterns and bright colors. The case, graceful and stylish and of great artistic value, is the typical representative for the lacquer-ware excavated from Mawangdui Han Tombs.


When unearthed, this lacquer-ware was stuffed with toilet articles used by women at that time, reflecting the toilette situation of noble ladies in Han Dynasty over 2, 000 years ago.


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