Big round box with the cover was made to present fruit and sweets for the Chinese New Year. It was made for Imperial court use at the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th cc. in the traditions of the 16th c. The whole surface of the box made of the red and polychrome lacquer is decorated with deep carving of omnipotent symbols and figurative designs. Carved lacquer objects were extremely expensive. It was a very long and difficult process to make them. Lacquer was a luxury valued for its' cinnabar red colour and beauty and unique resistant properties. This is one of the best examples of carved lacquer in the Hermitage collection.