Antique Chinese Cinnabar Lacquer Round Box with Character for Spring (Chun) and God of Longevity (Shoulao) nova scotia It is signed on the

It is signed on the bottom "SH '89"

who clearly had a great deal of respect for this piece of wood

and the irregularity of the edge of the black paint makes me think it was made to please its maker rather than for sale

The cloth covered corners of this copy are a bit worn

perhaps closing up a third hole (

Antique Chinese Cinnabar Lacquer Round Box with Character for Spring (Chun) and God of Longevity (Shoulao) nova scotia It is signed on theThis lovely, finely carved antique Chinese cinnabar box features a large representation of the character for spring (chun, an allusion to long life), and a small image of Shoulao, the god of longevity, on its face, with an overflowing bowl below it set against a background of radiating rainbows. This "bowl of treasures" design apparently first appeared in the 16th century, but became famous and more complicated when an extraordinary series of boxes