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Antique Annamese jewelry box with inlay

Antique Annamese jewelry box with inlaid with mother of pearl c1890. This wonderful pierce carved octagonal box measures 10 and one half inches across and four and one half inches high. The quality of the inlay work is as good as it gets obviously done by a master. There are flowers,birds,scrolls,butterflies,grasses inlaid all over the top and all eight of the interiors sides. Excellent original condition. There is a wonderful contrast in the way the mother of pearl was set to give a lovely three dimensional effect.For many years such rosewood boxes were labeled Chinese, mostly because they carry Buddhist/Taoist/Confucious motifs. Nobody has been able to duplicate the refined, precise cutting of shell, then placed into an artistic space by Annamese artists of the late 19thC/early 20thC. Or duplicate the exact reflective rainbow coloring of shells used by the Annamese. The purpose of the boxes were quite similar to Chinese stuff--gifts for wedding, food offerings, etc. Japanese MOP has a slick quality about it, not found on the mainland of SE Asia. Annamese is a region and former kingdom of central Vietnam on the South China Sea between Tonkin and Cochin China. It was ruled by China from 111 B.C. until A.D. 939 and came under French control in the 19th century.This beautiful box would make the perfect gift.

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