The Royal Collection contains some of the most significant examples of Chinese art in Europe today, and these span a really rich cross-section of material from porcelain to lacquer, jade, silk, all produced in China over many centuries.
Today, there are about 2,500 works of art of this kind across the current and historic royal residences, where they've played a central role in luxurious palace furnishing.
The first British embassy was sent to China in 1792, and it aimed to negotiate a treaty of friendship and commerce between George III and the Emperor Qianlong.
George III dispatched members of the embassy with gifts for the emperor, including a telescope, a planetarium, and specimens of items for trade.
In return, Emperor Qianlong sent to George III some of the most outstanding Chinese works in the collection today.
This box was selected as part of a diplomatic gift by Emperor Qianlong, together with other materials such as jade and pottery, to show off the diversity of material and also the craftsmanship in the Imperial Workshop.
Hundreds of layers of thin lacquers were applied onto a wood or even copper body before carving the design into its surface.
And inside the box, there's an imperial inscription, indicate it was of imperial quality and for a precious object.
But we have no idea what kind of precious might have been kept inside.
In this case, five crow dragons still remain.
