Chinese Export Silver Card Case, circa 1880, embossed and chased with a classic Peking opera scene featuring a monumental arch inscribed with “Shepanshan” (蛇盘山), a place name from Journey to the West, where Tang Sanzang’s mount—the White Dragon Horse—is tamed. The other side is decorated with bamboo and floral motifs, This case is unusually crafted in the form of a book, featuring a round button on the side that opens the hinged lid at the top, which also has a vacant oval cartouche.
