Black Silk-covered Box Decorated With A Chinese Silk Embroidered Civil Rank Insignia, 19th Century

The panel is decorated with archaic key borders and the insignia of a goose, the symbol of the fourth rank of civil officials at the Qing Dynasty court. The goose was depicted perched on one leg on li-shui rocks, surrounded by large, scrolling silver clouds, flying bats (a symbol of good fortune), peonies (a symbol of beauty), branches bearing peaches, and Lingzhi mushrooms (a symbol of longevity). The goose is gazing at the sun in full sunlight in the upper right corner. A fine mid-19th-century work.