China, first half of the 20th century or earlier. Of circular section, the tall cover finely engraved with a poem by the Qianlong Emperor and a landscape depicting a farmer crossing a bridge towards a pavilion, the top with a central Shou character encircled by a band of key-fret band. The base incised with a four-character mark Qianlong nianzhi.

Inscriptions: To the sides, inscribed 'One stays in a summer residence for a few days to relieve oneself of the heat. The village has been covered in snow and fenced by trees. The painter painted the picture for the sake of wine and to relieve the cold' and dated 'year of Yisi in the Qianlong era (1785)'.

Provenance: British trade.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, light surface scratches, and minor nibbling.

Weight: 160 g
Dimensions: Diameter 5.5 cm

The poem was composed by the Qianlong Emperor and is written on a painting by Shen Zhou that is in the collection of the Palace Museum, Taipei, accession number 故畫001282N000000010. The picture depicts a village covered in snow and hidden among trees and mountains.

Although thumb-rings were made in considerable quantities during the Qing dynasty, thumb-ring cases that have been preserved intact to this day are rather rare. Furthermore, while the majority of cases were made to hold a group of rings, this box is unusual for its size which was to contain a single thumb-ring when not in use.

The Manchu nation rose to power by means of horse riding and archery, and all Manchu rulers deemed it essential to continue the long tradition of archery even when it became merely a showcase at military parades or was only practiced at hunting. Qing Imperial records document the obligation every young man belonging to the Eight Banners had in practicing archery in the 'archer's house' of their respective Banners. Archer's thumb-rings (she) were worn on the right thumb to protect the archer from the bow string when discharging the arrow. They not only became part of the bannerman's indispensable paraphernalia but a fashionable piece of accessory and a symbol of rank and wealth.