Cleveland Museum of Art

Round Box

Date

c. 1760–70

Medium

Tortoiseshell with red lacquer; inlays of gold, silver, and brass wire; contains a portrait miniature

Culture

France, 18th century

Department

Decorative Art and Design

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This small lacquer box, made in France during the 1700s, references China in that it imitates Chinese material and craftmanship such as red lacquer and celadon. This round box with an inlaid key pattern (an interlocking geometric motif ), emulates the bright vermilion color of Chinese red lacquer, typical of Suzhou lacquer ware. The key pattern is reminiscent of the so-called Chinese thunder pattern ( leiwen ).

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