Zitan is also known as Red Sandalwood; it is a species of Pterocarpus native to India. It is only found in south India in Kadapa and Chittoor on the Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh border. The wood has historically been valued in China, particularly during the Ming and Qing periods, referred to in Chinese as zitan and spelt tzu-t'an by earlier western authors such Gustav Ecke, who introduced classical Chinese furniture to the West. . It has been one of the most prized woods for millennia .

King Solomon was given tribute logs of Almug in Sanskrit valgu, valgum by the Queen of Sheba. Due to its slow growth and rarity, furniture made from zitan is difficult to find and can be expensive. Between the 17th and 19th centuries in China the rarity of this wood led to the reservation of zitan furniture for the Qing dynasty imperial household. Almost all smaller pieces of zitan like this box were made later from damaged furniture parts.

"CHINESE SCHOLARS’ TREASURES FROM THE JIZHEN ZHAI COLLECTION These were exhibited at the Chinese Cultural Museum in San Francisco, in late 1997. Dr. Fang Jing Pei of the Jizhen Zhai Collection in Pennsylvania loaned the museum over one hundred sixty items of exquisite and superb craftsmanship. - see below:

October 25 - December 14, 1997

Chinese scholars have throughout the centuries collected art objects that decorate and complement their desks and studios. Many of these objects have functional purposes ranging from brushes to arm rests; others are more inspirational and range from sculptural pieces to paintings. As these items are close companions to the daily scholarly pursuits, they tend to share an intimacy with the owner. They are exquisite in detail and superb in craftsmanship. This exhibition will display approximately 150 art objects from the collection of Jizhen Zhai (“Studio of Accumulated Treasures”), ranging from the 16th to the 20th century. The show will provide a comprehensive examination of the Chinese scholars’ accouterments through a variety of selected items that include brushes, bitongs (brush holders), inkstones, rocks, incense burners, seals, table screens, traveling boxes, sculpted animals and figures, cups, paintings, and gourds."