Chinese Box with Sliding Lid

Orange blossoms and thin leaves drift across the front of this dark box.

This lacquered elm wood box with a sliding lid is from Shanxi Province, China. Lacquer is built up in layers over wood, and once cured it forms a hard, protective finish that can be red, black or brown. Shown is a dark rectangular box with a sliding top and fine painted lines at the edge. The front shows spiky orange flowers and pale green grasses in a delicate, brushy style. The surface is dusty, with chips at the corners. It is 7.25 inches wide, 13 deep, 5 high and 0.81 in diameter.

A little garden painted on a very serious box.