Tobacco container which consists of three compartments. It looks like a Japanese ‘inro’ but is Chinese. The sides are finely engraved with auspicious scenes. An old scholar plays a musical instrument called ‘Qin’ and an official rides a horse. A similar container is depicted on page 383 of ‘The Chinese encounter with opium’ by K. Flow, who states that it is an opium box. This one dates from the late Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1912). Height 9 cm. Width 4.8 cm. Depth 3.3 cm.