Asian Decorative Lidded Boxes
May 2026
These objects are all decorative covered boxes or containers from Asian cultures (primarily China, with one French piece), made in various luxury materials including lacquer, silver, porcelain, tortoiseshell, and stoneware, used for cosmetics, fragrance, and storage.
45 objects · 4 institutions
Blue-and-White Box
Art Institute of Chicago
Ming dynasty (1368-1644), 17th century
Box
Cleveland Museum of Art
1900–1916
Box in the Form of a Clamshell
Art Institute of Chicago
Tang dynasty (618–907), first half of 8th century
Box with Dragon
Cleveland Museum of Art
c 1900– 1925
Box with Scholar's Accoutrements
Cleveland Museum of Art
late 1800s
Box with Scholar's Accoutrements
Cleveland Museum of Art
late 1800s
Box with Scholar's Accoutrements (lid)
Cleveland Museum of Art
late 1800s
Carved Lacquer Box
Art Institute of Chicago
Qing dynasty (1644–1911), 19th century
Carved Lacquer Scroll Box
Cleveland Museum of Art
1736–95
Circular Box with Peacocks, Peonies, and Auspicious Motifs
Art Institute of Chicago
Ming dynasty (1368–1644), Wanli period (1573–1620)
Cover for a Carved Lacquer Scroll Box
Cleveland Museum of Art
1736–95
Covered Box
Art Institute of Chicago
18th century
Covered Box
Cleveland Museum of Art
late 1800s
Covered Box with Dragons
Cleveland Museum of Art
1573–1620
Covered Box with Dragons (lid)
Cleveland Museum of Art
1573–1620
Covered Box with Floral Blooms, Tendrils, and Billowy Clouds
Art Institute of Chicago
Tang dynasty (618–907), 8th century
Covered Cosmetic Box with Floret Scrolls
Art Institute of Chicago
Song (960–1279) or Yuan dynasty (1279–1368), c. 12th/13th century
Fitted Box
Art Institute of Chicago
Qing dynasty (1636–1912); 18th century
Four-Tiered Square Box and Cover
Art Institute of Chicago
Ming dynasty (1368-1644), 16th century
Fragrance Box
Cleveland Museum of Art
1700s
Ginger Jar with Phoenix and Dragon
Cleveland Museum of Art
early 1900s
Hexagonal Covered Box with Birds and Flowers
Art Institute of Chicago
Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Kangxi reign mark and period (1662–1723)
Hexagonal Covered Box with Lions in Relief: Qingbai Ware
Cleveland Museum of Art
1300–1325
Ink Box
Cleveland Museum of Art
early to mid-1800s
Insence box in the shape of a crane
Rijksmuseum
c. 1700 - before 1799
Lacquer Box
Cleveland Museum of Art
c. 1890
Letter Box
Cleveland Museum of Art
1615–1868
Nest of Boxes
Art Institute of Chicago
Qing dynasty (1636–1912); 18th century
Nested Boxes with Chrysanthemums
Cleveland Museum of Art
early 1900s
Nested Boxes with Chrysanthemums (inner box)
Cleveland Museum of Art
early 1900s
Nested Boxes with Chrysanthemums (outer box lid)
Cleveland Museum of Art
early 1900s
Pair of Vases
Cleveland Museum of Art
early 1900s
Rectangular box with decoration of scattered fans
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Red Lacquer Box
Art Institute of Chicago
Joseon Dynasty
Round Box with Bird and Peonies Design
Cleveland Museum of Art
c. 1300
Round Box with Lid
Cleveland Museum of Art
c. 1760–70
Round Covered Box with Medallions
Cleveland Museum of Art
1522–66
Round box with powder blue and a dragon
Rijksmuseum
c. 1700 - c. 1724
Small Box
Art Institute of Chicago
17th century
Square box with ornamental lines
Rijksmuseum
c. 1800 - c. 1899
Stacking box
Rijksmuseum
c. 1775 - c. 1824
Tiered box composed of three layers with dragon en precious objects
Rijksmuseum
c. 1680 - c. 1720
Triple Covered Box with Branches of Floral Heads
Art Institute of Chicago
Song dynasty (960–1279)
Vase (storage box)
Cleveland Museum of Art
early 1900s
Writing Box with Design of Six Poets under a Cherry Tree and a Pine
Metropolitan Museum of Art
18th century