Chinese Antique Porcelain Cricket Box with Gold Painted Text and Decoration hand-painted cat face and when you press the

and when you press the button on at the center of the wooden base

and short upturned rope tail

and some small stains to the wood

These charming

with slightly cocked head

Chinese Antique Porcelain Cricket Box with Gold Painted Text and Decoration hand-painted cat face and when you press theWhen I purchased this piece, it was, understandably, marked as an incense box (and I think has been, and is perfectly suited to use as such), but it was originally created (in the second half of the 19th century I believe) to house a cricket, a symbol of vitality and prosperity in China, and kept near in boxes like this so to enjoy their chirping. This one, glazed a deep orange with hand painted gold decoration, features leaves grasses on the top and