Circa 1880 China

A Red Lacquer and Gilt Casket

£950

SOLD

Height 7 inches (17.78 cm)
Width 14 3/4 inches (37.46 cm)
Depth 9 inches (22.86 cm)

A red lacquer and gilt casket with lock escutcheon and carrying handles.

Lacquer is made from the sap of the Rhus Verniciflua tree, a close relation of poison ivy. Raw lacquer is resistant to water and can be applied to nearly any surface. Whilst lacquer can be found in Chinese artefacts dating as far back as the Neolithic times (10200 BC – 2000 BC), carved and painted lacquer works first appeared during the Warring States Period (475 BC – 221 BC). Today, they continue to be sought after items for which both collectors and interior decorators share a strong interest.

Whilst in modern days caskets are kept to store small items such as jewellery or trinkets, they traditionally held important documents and items or papers of great personal or monetary worth.

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