1-233-889 - The Museum of East Asian Art/Heritage Images

Inlaid zitan wood covered box, China, 2nd half of the 16th century. Late Ming dynasty rectangular box of zitan wood, a rare and much-prized tropical hardwood. The cover is decorated on the top with pieces of inlaid green stained ivory, coral, lapis, soapstone and mother-of-pearl depicting a pair of mandarin ducks beside rocks framed by overhanging sprays of flowering tree, chrysanthemums, peonies, berries, a prunus tree and two birds.The interior of the box is fitted with a plain detachable tray. From the workshop of Chou Chu.