Lot 120. A small huanghuali pillow box, Late Ming-early Qing dynasty; 10.5 by 28 by 14 cm., 4 1/8  by 11 by 5 1/2  in. Estimate 70,000 — 100,000 HKD. Lot Sold 400,000 HKD (45,982 EUR). Courtesy Sotheby's.

of rectangular section, the box constructed with plain straight sides with a beaded rim, flanked on the shorter sides with a pair of C-shaped baitong loop handles suspended from floral roundels, the cover of corresponding form hinged on the back of the box, similarly bordered with a beaded edge and constructed with short straight sides surmounted by a curvilinear concave top plank, the front embellished at the centre with a circular lock plate set with a lobed ruyi-shaped clasp, the corners decorated and reinforced with applied baitong mounts.

Exhibited: Grace Wu Bruce, Feast by a wine table reclining on a couch: The Dr. S. Y. Yip Collection of Classic Chinese Furniture III, Art Museum, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2007, cat. no. 57, pp. 166-167.

Note: "A clever way to store and sleep on your riches without worry, before the advent of banks."

This classical design was used by craftsmen to fashion small boxes, like the present example, after large storage chest for clothing. This small box is completely plain except for the beaded edges where the lid meets the body of the box. This beading serves as a subtle decoration as well as to an improvement on the durability of the box by enlarging the area of the surface of contact.

The corner application of baitong mounts serves both as decoration and as reinforcement of the joins, making these boxes also suitable for the storage of heavy valuable items like jewellery, cash and silver. It is interesting to note that boxes as small as these were fitted with handles, indicating their association with frequent carriage. The top plank of the box is curved and it is thought that these types of small boxes were also used as travelling pillows..

Sotheby's. Ming Furniture – The Dr S Y Yip Collection, Hong Kong, 07 October 2015