Square paktong opium box. Once upon a time this small opium box may well have been part of a larger boxed ensemble because the shape does not really invite to fondling it as is the case with the rounded examples. The inner lining is made of paktong. Paktong (白銅) literally means ‘White copper’ and was invented in China to imitate sterling silver. In fact it contains about 60% copper, 20% nickel and 20% zinc and no silver at all. The box is unmarked and dates from the end of the Qing period (1644 – 1912) to the early Republic period (1912 – 1947). Height 2.8 cm. Width 3.2 cm. Depth 2.6 cm.