| The Public Paperfolding History Project
Last updated 5/10/2026 x |
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| The Chrysanthemum and the Chrysanthemum Box | |||||||
| This
page is being used to collect information about the
history of the design known as the Chrysanthemum Box.
Please contact me if you know any of this information is
incorrect or if you have any other information that
should be added. Thank you. The Chrysanthemum Box also appears as a component of Multiple Layer Collapsible Boxes / Zhen Xian Bao. There is a separate page for The Chrysanthemum ********** In China (and in publications by Chinese authors) 1866 As far as I know boxes of this design first appear in the historical record as the top layer of boxes in a Zhen Xian Bao acquired from France in 2015 by Joan Sallas for the collection of the Padore library. An accompanying letter states that it was made in Paris by Laurent Sui as a gift for Madame Burgot. The letter is dated 28th August 1866.
********** 1914 Diagrams for the 'Chrysanthemum Box' (right hand diagrams) appear in 'Zhe zhi tu shuo' (Illustrated Paperfolding), compiled by Gui Shaolie, which was published by the Commercial Press in Shanghai in Ming guo 3 (1914).
********** 1948 The design also appears, as 'Flowered Candy Box' in 'The Art of Chinese Paper folding for Young and Old' by Maying Soong, which was published by Harcourt Brace and Company in New York in 1948.
********** In Western Europe and the Americas 1931 The earliest publication of this design in the West that I am aware of is under the title of 'Le Sachet a Foulards' (The Box for Scarves) in 'La Nature' 2866 of 1st October 1931.
********** Very similar diagrams, also by Alber, appear in Le Memorial of 19th November 1931
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