The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 21, 2025

Lid for a Round Box

c. 1760–70

France, 18th century

Tortoiseshell with red lacquer; inlays of gold, silver, and brass wire
Diameter: 2.3 x 6.4 cm (7/8 x 2 1/2 in.)
In memory of Ruth Probala 1988.48.b
Location: Not on view

Description

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).
  • ?–1988
    Andrew E. Probala, Cleveland, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1988–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • “The Year in Review for 1988.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 76, no. 2 (1989): 30–75. Mentioned: p. 69, no. 25 www.jstor.org
  • China’s Southern Paradise: Treasures from the Lower Yangzi Delta. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 10, 2023-January 7, 2024).
  • {{cite web|title=Lid for a Round Box|url=false|author=|year=c. 1760–70|access-date=21 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1988.48.b