Truly Unique Gifts...

How these boxes came to be ...

During a harsh period of Chinese history, Chairman Mao Ze Dong initiated what was known as the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). Basically Chinese society was turned upside down with teachers and other intellectuals suffering humiliation as "reactionary thinkers" and taking the brunt of brutalizing, inhuman behavior. A typical event during this stormy stretch of time was for so-called "Red Guards" to storm people's houses like drunken robbers; smashing and breaking anything of value surviving from "old China". Thousands of vases and pots, ceramic tresures of great beauty and careful family inheritance, were left scattered in the dust. But like the fabled phoenix they arise again here. These gorgeous boxes, each made absolutely uniquely from such shattered treasures are themselves treasures. No two will ever be the same because skillful workmen have transformed random acts of violence into random articles of beauty: each like no other.

An indiviual box is anywhere from 1 1/4 (small) to 2 inches (large) square and stands from a little over 1 to 1 1/2 inches high. Many of the images are faded and may be in excess of 100 years old. Every single box is wrapped with beautiful hand-applied tin borders and a raised design. Remember, a two inch box is really FOUR times large than a onch box due to the law of squares. Prices reflect these differences. Perfect for rings, crystals, special buttons, or as gifts.

Read a true story about this period of history and one of my acupuncture teachers.

Each of these beautiful boxes is a little joy. Click on a picture to see a more detailed view of an exquisite personal treasure.

Delicate teasures for your hand... only $15.95 each
GBXS401: Feathers	GBXS402: Climbing stalk	GBXS403: Bird's head	GBXS404: Pine trees

This is the size of one of the "medium" boxes. Great for its own beauty and for keeping that "special bauble". Note: Our orders are truly "limited" since we have only one of each piece. Make sure you use the product code and always pick a second choice if possible.

Ceramic pleasures are perfect gifts... only $19.95 each
	GBXM426: Leaf and petals	GBXM427: Yellow bird	GBXM428: Pair of Ladies
	GBXM429: Geometric design	GBXM430: Lady nods	GBXM431: Subtle bird

These larger boxes are perfect for that special piece of jewlery. Each shows a clear, bold face all its own. Click picture and view closer.

 

When I was in acupuncture school, my teacher and mentor told me the story of what it was like to be a child in China during the Cultural Revolution. She grew up in an upper class intellectual family. Their comfortable home contained an assortment of beautiful Qing Dynasty vases and porcelain ware. One day, the Red Guard stormed through her home smashing everything in sight. My teacher, who was then a child, hid under the dining room table and watched with an odd mixture of emotions. On the one hand she felt the sadness of watching her family’s heritage, things of such exquisite beauty, destroyed so violently. At the same time, she couldn’t resist feeling just a wee bit gleeful at the destruction of all this stuff that she had been warned never to touch for fear of breaking it.

When I found these porcelain topped boxes and heard the story of how they were made, I thought of the magical possibility that one of my teacher’s family heirlooms might be right there among them!