Chinese Lacquer Covered Bowl

Say hello to a dark, round box with rings at the sides and a lid that fits like a handshake.

This covered lacquerware bowl is from Shanxi Province, China, and dates to the 20th century. Lacquer is made from the sap of the lacquer tree, and it is applied in thin layers that harden into a smooth, durable coating. Wide, rounded, lidded container with a deep black surface and soft sheen. Fine scratches and small scuffs show on the top. Two small metal loops hang at the sides of the seam, with a latch tab near the front. It is 3.5 inches high and 7.25 in diameter.

Plump, polished, and clearly built to be carried.