Document Chest on Stand

Unusual chests like this were used towards the end of the Qing dynasty to house documents and valuables and the written characters on the front of this one refer to the chest's original contents. The details on the left mention that the box holds white jade and jade beads, while on the right it describes the gold lock that would have been used on the outside to secure it. The central circular motif depicts various valuables with possibly examples of the jade pieces once stored inside.
It has been cleverly mounted on a separate stand and is still in its original finish which has worn over time, revealing the elm wood beneath in small parts, adding a sense of character and use over the centuries.
A removable half board on the top opens up to the inside, with a simple brass clasp fitted at the front that the gold lock would have been fitted to.