Double Melon-Shaped Box

The highly skilled Yaozhou potters often drew inspiration from nature. Yet this extremely playful lidded box, vividly crafted in the shape of two melons grown from a leafy vine, still stands out as a rare find. The box’s diminutive size and two internal compartments suggest that it was likely used as a cosmetic container on a lady’s dressing table. Characterized by its abundant seeds and winding vines, the melon was considered an auspicious symbol related to child-bearing and familial prosperity in traditional China. As a result, melon motifs frequently adorned everyday objects.