ANTIQUE CHINESE PORCELAIN BOX 19th C. QING SILVER / COPPER OPIUM JEWELRY BOX

Description

"PEARL RIVER PLUM" / CANTON OPIUM BOX
ABSOLUTELY STUNNING RENDITION OF "SUKEROKU" (SEE DESCRIPTION OF THIS FAMOUS KABUKI PLAY IN PHOTOS)
SUPERBLY RENDERED IN THE VISUALLY ARRESTING STYLE OF THE JIAQING ERA
THE LARGE 7 7/8" PORCELAIN LID HAND PAINTED IN THE "WUCAI" STYLE IS ALMOST JEWEL LIKE IN APPEARANCE
MATED WITH A HAND HAMMERED SILVER "RINSED" (PLATED) COPPER COWLING WHICH IS IN TURN FITTED TO A CORRESPONDING HAND HAMMERED SILVER "RINSED" COPPER BOX
SO FINELY FITTED AS TO CREATE AN ALMOST AIRTIGHT VAULT-LIKE COUPLING
ORIGINALLY CALLED A "PEARL RIVER PLUM" AS THEY WOULD BE TRANSPORTED UP THE PEARL RIVER OFF THE COAST OF CANTON, CHINA  PACKED WITH FINE TURKISH OPIUM "LIKE A FAT JUICY PLUM" WHICH WOULD THEN BE REMOVED OFF SHORE AND SMUGGLED INTO THE COUNTRY
THE NOW EMPTY "PLUM" WOULD THEN CONTINUE ON UPRIVER TO ACTUALLY BE EXPORTED TO THE U.K./ U.S.A. AS A FINE ART ACCESSORY OR KEEPSAKE BOX
IN SAN FRANCISCO, CA. IN THE MID-19th CENTURY WITHIN THE CHINESE COMMUNITY THE TERM "PEARL RIVER PLUM" WAS WELL KNOWN
ONE VERY PROMINENT FAMILY WHOSE VAST WEALTH WAS INITIALLY CREATED BY DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN OPIUM SMUGGLING WAS WARREN DELANO II
GRANDFATHER OF FUTURE U.S. PRESIDENT FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT
LATER IN LIFE MR. DELANO MADE ANOTHER FORTUNE SELLING OPIUM TO THE U.S. ARMY MEDICAL CORPS FOR THE DURATION OF THE U.S. CIVIL WAR
THEY DIDN'T TEACH YOU THAT IN U.S. HISTORY CLASS?
IT WAS SAID HE WOULD OFTEN GIVE THE NOW EMPTY "PLUMS" AS GIFTS
LENGTH: 7 7/8"
WIDTH: 5"
HEIGHT: 1 7/8"
SHIPS INSURED WITH TRACKING
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
BUYER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY / ALL TAXES, TARIFFS, DUTIES
OTHER ITEMS LISTED