Chinese Antique Porcelain Cricket Box with Gold Painted Text and Decoration hand-painted cat face in pencil down both his

in pencil down both his front and back

and when you press the button on at the center of the wooden base

and some small stains to the wood

These charming

Chinese Antique Porcelain Cricket Box with Gold Painted Text and Decoration hand-painted cat face in pencil down both hisWhen I purchased this piece, it was, understandably, marked as an incense box (and I think has been, and is perfectly suited to use as such), but it was originally created (in the second half of the 19th century I believe) to house a cricket, a symbol of vitality and prosperity in China, and kept near in boxes like this so to enjoy their chirping. This one, glazed a deep orange with hand painted gold decoration, features leaves grasses on the top and