Seal paste box and cover decorated with plum flower blossoms. Plum flowers have five petals which represent the "Five Blessings', Old age, Wealth, Health, Love of virtue and a Peaceful death. The material from which this box was made is cinnabar lacquer. Lacquer is the sap from a tree which hardens when exposed to the air and cinnabar is a crushed mineral which colors the clear lacquer red. This box consists of a metal base on which many layers of lacquer were coated. When still soft, the lacquer was then deep-carved. Seal paste boxes held an ink paste which was used to sign documents or paintings with a chop (seal) mark. The box dates from the 19th century. Diameter 8.5 cm. Height 5.5 cm.