Square silver opium box embossed with three cauldrons. A Cauldron (Ding) is one of the ‘Hundred Treasures’ and is a pun for ‘Must’ (Ding). A Peony flower in one of the cauldrons symbolizes Wealth and Honor. Bamboo in another cauldron represents Humility and Fidelity as well as Peace. Two Fly Whisks flank the cauldron on the lid and symbolize Longevity. The Chinese text on the box reads ‘San Xing Zhao, Fu, Lu, Shou’, which means ‘The Three Star Gods, Fu, Lu and Shou’. Fu is the God of Prosperity, Lu of Status and Shou of Longevity. The box is marked with the words Zu Yin (足银) which means ‘Silver’ and the name Tian Xiang (天祥) who may have been the silversmith or the retailer. It dates from the end of the Qing (1644 – 1912) to the early Republic period (1912 – 1947). Height 3.7 cm. Width 2.4 cm. Depth 1.9 cm.