Burmese Covered Bowl with Cloud Motif

Plump red lacquered box covered in tiny drifting clouds, round as a macaron.

This covered lacquered wood bowl with cloud motif is from Burma, and dates to the 20th century. Cloud scrolls are a decorative device found across Asian art, where they are often used as a graceful, flowing pattern around a central design. Squat, rounded lidded box with a glossy orange-red finish, drawn with fine black swirling clouds across the lid and sides. A thin seam divides lid from base. The edges show small spots where the finish has worn. It is 8 inches high and 0.77 in diameter.

It looks like candy and keeps its secrets like a vault.