Mandarin duck-shaped lacquer box from over 2,000 years ago

This intricately carved mandarin duck is a rare lacquerware unearthed from the tomb of Marquis Yi of the Zeng State of the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). It has a hollow body, a lid on its back, and a movable head. On its sides, you can find lively paintings of mythical beasts striking bells, drums, and dancing.

Now housed in Hubei Provincial Museum, the lacquer box offers valuable insight into ancient Chinese arts of music, dance, and painting, and hints at how the musical instruments buried with the Marquis Yi of Zeng may have been played.