The round box measures 4 ½” diameter and is 2 ¼” high. The top of the box has extensive calligraphy arranged in a nice geometric pattern – we have not been able to get the calligraphy translated. One side of the deeper bottom half has an incised design that looks like reeds or water plants. The other side of the bottom half has more of the incised calligraphy with the white under clay showing underneath.

There is an elaborate formal seal on the very bottom of the box – not translated. There is also a museum mark in white ink on the base – the museum from which the piece was de-accessioned is not known. The piece is in very good condition – there is one small 5/8” section on the top rim of the bottom section that has been cracked and was repaired many years ago. We date the box to the mid to late 19th century, Qing dynasty. It could, however, date as early as the 18th century.

Yixing clay (Wade-Giles: I-Hsing) is a type of clay from the region near the city of Yixing in Jiangsu province, China. Its use dates back to the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279) when purple clay was first mined around Lake Taihu in China[. From the 17th century on, the ware was commonly exported to Europe. The finished stoneware, which is used for teaware and other small items, are usually red or brown in color. They are known as Purple Sand ware, and are typically unglazed. The clays used for the yixing-wares are very cohesive and can be formed by slip molding, coil forming, or most commonly, slab forming. The clays can also be formed by throwing