An unusual Chinese porcelain that was used in China for cricket keeping.Lozenge shaped porcelain box with lid. The front has the delicate painting of flowers and a bird on a branch in pink, green, blue, and yellow over glaze enamels. Gold enamel is used to outline the lid rim, inner rim and around the air holes. Black is used to outline and to paint the bird. The painting is very delicate and exact. The box is thinly potted and the glaze is very thin as well. Holding the box up to the light, you can see your fingersa€? shadows behind it. The back has a line of characters. The lid has a flange that is unglazed, as is the box rim and inner edge. The foot ring is unglazed and is fairly smooth to the touch. The base of the box is unglazed. The box sits flat on a table.There are no porcelain marks or labels.MEASUREMENTS 4 ??a€ (12.1 cm) long x 2 ??a€ (7 cm) wide x 1 5/8a€ (4.1 cm) tall. Weighs 5.7 oz (165 g)CONDITION The lid is crudely painted and has gilt wear with kiln flaws. The base has less kiln flaws. It has a hairline crack down the front but ita€?s faint and doesn't detract from the look. The lid and base have differences in quality. They were probably production pieces and made separately. There are no other cracks. There are no chips or breaks.A small work of art that was used for cricket keeping. A piece of history, with a fun function (perhaps unless you're a cricket)Item ID: Por-832