Legend has it that the Tang emperor, Minghuang (r. 713-56 CE), had lychee fruit delivered by horseback from southern China to satisfy the cravings of his favorite concubine, Yang Yuhuan. Because of this story, and the fruit’s general popularity in China, lychee is a frequent motif in the decorative arts and carries associations with romance. The fruits are sometimes depicted with realistic outer skins and sometimes with a lattice pattern. Via Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Lidded box with lychees, China, 16th century, MKG Hamburg, Public Domain
Design is fine. History is mine. 