Xiang Cheng Curiosity Cabinet Couplet

Since 2018, we have been crafting red envelopes as a special gift for our esteemed guests. Now in our fifth year, each year brings a new, surprisingly beautiful design. This year, we've elevated the craft with premium art paper and handcrafted gold foil. As an antique jewelry shop, our red envelope motifs are inspired by European antique curiosity cabinets, hand-drawn by our brand designer with subtle nods to various rare objects. Each red envelope is assembled by hand, with gold foil applied meticulously, one by one. The couplets feature gold and black foil application, creating a texture reminiscent of genuine ink. We've invested significantly in the paper, using imported art paper: 325lb French Champs-Élysées paper, offering a substantial and artistically refined feel. (A set including couplets and red envelopes is also available in our store.) We'd like to share a small story about the creation process: This year, we deliberately chose a muted red, unlike the common vibrant reds found in the market. This desaturated hue is sophisticated and distinctive, immediately signaling its unique quality. However, the production process presented unforeseen challenges. The intricate lines of the curiosity cabinet illustrations were so delicate that inexperienced foil applicators struggled to transfer the design. Another hurdle was our choice of a very special, muted orange-red paper. Its fine pores and subtle sheen caused the gold foil to be absorbed, making it difficult to achieve a clear imprint. As a result, the silver foil originally intended for the green envelopes had to be used for the red ones. What about the green envelopes? Our owner was on the verge of compromising, considering silver foil for both colors. Seeing the foil specialist's predicament, he stopped me and said, "No one uses silver foil for Lunar New Year red envelopes; it's not auspicious!" He then called upon the 80-year-old factory manager, who produced a roll of gold foil from an unlisted color chart. "Your design calls for this specific gold foil to achieve that luxurious effect. It's usually used for premium cosmetic packaging. Try it!" Upon application, I was completely captivated by the manager's expertise. Thankfully, I was connected with a highly experienced, veteran foil application studio; the technical difficulty in completing this set was immense. The final product, however, surpassed my vision. Based on feedback from our loyal customers over the years, Xiang Cheng's red envelopes are a prestigious gift that impresses recipients and a delightful item for personal collection. They embody the same meticulous dedication and high standards we apply to selecting antique jewelry. [This listing is for the couplet only. A separate listing for the couplet and red envelope set is available.] [Couplet] Material: Les Naturals - French Recycled Champs-Élysées Paper 325lb, Hand-applied Gold and Black Foil Dimensions: 18x18cm (Slight variations may occur due to handmade nature) [Shipping] Free domestic shipping within Taiwan. International shipping fee is NT$100.