Museum Updates
Exquisite bronze cosmetic box from 3,000 years ago
Updated: Jan 6, 2026
China Bound
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About the size of an apple, this exquisite bronze box once held cosmetics or ornaments used by Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-256 BC) elites. Its rounded body is decorated with panhui (coiled snake) motifs, dotted with rivet patterns.
A chain-linked handle, ring by ring, connects to the lid, where a tiny bird perches on top, wings slightly spreading as if about to fly. Both functional and decorative, this box is a true showpiece of ancient craftsmanship.
Unearthed at the Xianrentai site in Changqing district, Jinan, Shandong province, it is now housed in the Museum of Shandong University, offering a glimpse into the elegant daily life of the nobility around 3,000 years ago.
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