The edges of the box have a thin band of golden lacquer on a black band. The two longer sides have long oval reserves surrounded by the same series of small inter-connected circles with tiny six sided flowers in each circle as the top. One side has a design of what appears to be a maple tree with a bird sitting on a branch. The other long side has a design of tree growing from a hill – a bird and two butterflies flit around the tree. The two ends have smaller reserves within the same outer band of circles. One end has a design of a tree with a butterfly under the leaves. The other end has a design of flowering bush – again with a butterfly overhead.

The insides of the box are roughly lacquered in a rough red lacquer. However, the inside of the lid has another lovely design of a flowering tree over two rocks – again with the black lacquer ground and the design in inlaid mother of pearl. The box is in excellent condition for such an early piece – there are a few minor chips on the edges – inside and outside – but there are hardly any missing pieces of mother-of-pearl inlay. All such chips can be seen in the accompanying photographs. The box measures 9" long by 4 1/8" wide by 4" high.

The enclosure of the decoration on the top and sides of the box is within rounded oval reserves, and the spread of the design over the entire surface indicates that the box was made relatively early in the Chosôn period. The production of Chosôn lacquer, particularly before the nineteenth century, was under the strict control of the royal court. This extremely fine lacquer box exemplifies the superb and subtle craftsmanship of early Joseon lacquer, as well as the refined aesthetic of the elite scholar-gentlemen who would have used it.

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