Chinese Silver Opium Storage Box

This fine small silver box is for holding the opium block. Such blocks were small (but of high value). They also tended to ooze in warn conditions, so a heavy-gauge box was needed to store them, preferably with a heavy, or tight-fitting lid. Opium also needed to be kept in air-tight conditions, so again, a good lid was needed.

The lid is surmounted by a fine, crouching solid-cast silver mythical creature.

The sides are decorated in chased, high relief, with Daoist symbols. The side of the lid is etched with a key-fret pattern.

The base is stamped in Chinese with the word for ‘perfect’.