Stunning, Chinese 18th Century Qing Dynasty Period, Gilt bronze dragon relief lidded box. Finest gilt bronze carved in thick and sturdy, covered box is sturdily potted in a compressed globular form, with domed lid, Inner flange circumscribed around the dome lip allows for a perfect fitment of the covering, raised with small round foot base. The center dome lid carved with many auspicious ornament interspersed fresh foliage, flowers blooms, enclosed with interlocking key fret and single ring lines round the center medallion. The outer center dome lid carved with big flowers blooms interspersed interlocking tendril. The exterior dome lid and the lower main body carved in detail and emerge of snarling huge imperial five claws dragon careening through cumulus clouds above thrashing Li-shui waves in a dark brown color dragon squama rounded the bowl to chasing flaming pearl amidst flames. Dragon is the symbol of the Emperor, the Son of Heaven, eternity, Yang and Yin, male vigor and fecundity, the Li-shui wave pattern which is known to be the abode of dragons. The gilt bronze conformed all required specimen to be high valued Chinese bronze wares, with finest material, the gilt, the carving, and the shape. Without overlap the outlines of the design, well carved, clear, subtle, and distinct. The Under-base bears a reign mark, a six incised script characters reign mark, Made In The Years of Guangxu Reign Period of The Great Qing Dynasty.Height:2.75 inWidth: 4.75 inDepth: 4.75 in