A fine Chinese carved and gilded wood official food container, probably made in Chau-zhou and inscribed with a poem by Cheng Hao, early 19th century

潮州镀金木雕食物供盒, 19世纪早期

the box with a removable top and of rectangular shape with a finely and deeply carved gilded panel to the front depicting court officials standing before a pavilion with two dignitaries looking out from a veranda, the edge black and gilt lacquered with the sides and back carved and gilded in low relief, the top with a poem 'Chance Creation of an Autumn Day' by Cheng Hao (1032-1085), the base with key fret and gilded carving, supported on four recumbent gilt carved wood lion feet

Chance Creation of an Autumn Day   (the four lines from the poem reading as: )

All things in a contemplative manner attain what they need;

In all seasons their beauty flourishes, just as with people.

The Dao fills the universe without having shape;

My thoughts enter wind and clouds and assume their forms.

(translation by John Thompson)

These lines are from the poem 'Chance Creation of an Autumn Day' by Cheng Hao (1032-1085), a litterateur and philosopher in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). He shared a reputation with his brother Cheng Yi (1033-1107) as the 'Two Cheng' for their contributions to the development in Chinese philosophy during the Song dynasty. Below this is a signature which cannot be read.  Presumably it is that of the person who inscribed the box. This is followed by characters reading 'Inscribed during the period of mid June'.  There is also a small wax seal on the corner which reads 'Identification' 'Guang-dong province'. Chau-zhou, Guangdong province, was famous for the development of lacquered and gilt wood carving during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

此供盒通体镀金, 盒身以戏曲人物故事为题, 雕剔技法精湛, 人物与建筑物前后布置分明, 富立体感; 盒身两侧有镀金浅雕图案, 盒托边缘有红漆镀金花草回纹木雕装饰; 雕盒有行书题字, 为北宋程颢 (1032-1085) < 秋日偶成 >诗句, 四只底托雕有狮子形象

<秋日偶成> 程颢, 其中四句:

万物静观皆自得, 四时佳兴与人同。道通天地有形外, 思入风云变态中。

此诗题字约为六月中旬, 题字人名款识无法辨认。

盒盖左下角有封泥印, 印款“鉴定粤”。粤, 广东省, 明清时期, 广东省潮州以镀金木雕出名。