19th century
The boxes are of square form. Each cover is inlaid in mirror image with bone and coloured soapstone showing two boys trying to catch five bats to be put in a jar. One boy is holding a bat.
Five bats, wufu 五蝠, stand for longevity, wealth,
health, love of virtue, and a peaceful death.
10.9 × 10.9 cm
Provenance: A Dutch private collection
WF 87 十九世紀 納福迎祥紫檀木盒一對
方形盒，平頂蓋。蓋面鑲嵌象牙與滑石，呈現兩名童子嘗試將五隻蝙蝠抓入飾有冰裂紋的瓶甕。
來源：荷蘭私人收藏
10.9 × 10.9 公分
