Mother-of-pearl inlaid box
| Accession Nr.: | 80.29.1-3 |
|---|---|
| Type: | object for daily use; lacquers |
| Date of production: |
19th century ̶ first half oft he 20th century
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| Place of production: |
| Materials/Techniques: | wood, lacquer, mother of pearl inlay, tin |
|---|---|
| Dimensions: | height: 24cm diameter: 10 cm |
Round wooden box with five compartments. The rich mother-of-pearl decoration on both sides and the lid depicts a dragon (symbol of good fortune and emperorship), a Chinese or Vietnamese unicorn (called "qi lin"), a phoenix (virtue, noble qualities), and a turtle (spiritual power, extraterrestrial wisdom) among floral motifs, in a European tin mounting. In Vietnamese culture, these four 'sacred' animals together symbolise the power of the universe and often appear in the representation of cemeteries, pagodas, and shrines.
