A peach-shaped gold-plated box from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). [Photo/art.china.cn]

A collection of ancient boxes made in China will be displayed at the Sun Museum in Hong Kong from Sept 5 to Dec 2.

The 87 showpieces are from nine local private collections.

With different designs, such as seashell-shaped and duck-shaped, the boxes were used to store books, letters and toys. The owners of the boxes were noble people in ancient China. The patterns were often auspicious animals, fruits and children, bearing a wish for prosperity and longevity.