Lacquered Wood Document Box with Mother of Pearl Grapes

View More Pictures

This magnificent lacquered wood document box is lavishly decorated with intricate mother of pearl designs of monkeys playing between grape vines. Each mother of pearl design is delicately jigsaw-cut by hands one by one. The grapes symbolize one's wish to have many children as grapes bear much fruit, while the monkey represents one's hope to gain a high-ranking position in the government as the pronunciation of 'monkey' in Chinese characters is the same as 'feudal lords.' The elaborate adornment with the iridescence of mother of pearl designs makes it a breathtaking piece for collection.

The houseware coated with natural lacquer has long been used in East Asia for its glossy beauty as well as its practicality for being strong, watertight, antibacterial and purifying air in the room.