Antique Black Lacquer Chinoiserie Box

This decorative chinoiserie lacquer box measures 3.5 long inches x 2.5 inches wide x 2" tall.

The Chinese had discovered as early as the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046) that the juice of the lac tree (Rhus vernicifera), a naturally occurring polymer, could be used for forming hard but lightweight vessels when built up in very thin layers through the repeated dipping of a core of carved wood. They used this technique to create art like this for centuries after.