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Melon-shaped green jade box
Updated: May 6, 2025
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Summer is here and nothing says summer like sweet, juicy melons. Take a closer look at this exquisite melon-shaped box, carved from green jade during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Its surface is entwined with curling melon vines, topped with a butterfly in flight.
In Chinese culture, the pairing of melon (瓜 gua) and butterfly (蝶 die) is a play on the word "瓜瓞" (gua die), symbolizing generations of prosperity and a thriving family lineage. Now housed at the Confucius Museum in Qufu, Shandong province, this tiny treasure is a masterpiece of symbolism and craftsmanship.
