This wintersweet flower bonsai, dating back to the mid Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), features a shallow rectangular enamel pot decorated with flowers. A wintersweet flower tree is set in the pot, with its leaves made of painted copper and petals made of stained ivory. Artificial rockeries, crabapple flowers, camellias and grass complement the design.
The wintersweet flower bonsai indicates spring and longevity, which was popular in southern China at that period. It is an imperial treasure from the permanent collection of the Palace Museum.