LES THÈMES
Mid-Century Lacquer & Mother of Pearl Keepsake & Jewellery Box
An exceptionally elegant vintage lacquer box, finished in deep black lacquer and ornamented with finely worked mother-of-pearl inlay. More restrained than many traditional lacquer pieces, its beauty lies in the precision and delicacy of its decoration: slender lines of iridescent shell frame the lid in two concentric borders, finished at each corner with a small geometric motif. At its centre, an intricately rendered mother-of-pearl scene depicts fruiting branches alongside a small basket of fruit, with butterflies hovering above. Each tiny piece of shell has been carefully shaped and engraved with remarkably fine linear details, allowing the natural pink, silver and blue iridescence of the mother-of-pearl to emerge subtly against the glossy black ground. The box opens to reveal a beautifully simple interior finished in rich red lacquer, without fabric lining or compartments. Its generous proportions make it equally suited to storing jewellery and treasured objects or, particularly beautifully, personal stationery and correspondence on a writing desk. Ornamental without feeling ornate, the contrast between the expansive black lacquer surface and the almost graphic precision of the mother-of-pearl gives the piece a wonderfully timeless quality.
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Product Details
Material: Lacquered Wood, Mother-of-Pearl
Vintage Condition: Very Good with Minimal Signs of Use
Origin & Era: China, Mid 20th-Century
Dimensions: 19cm L x 14.5cm W x 4.6cm H
Weight: 424 grams
Curated as part of Les Thèmes ‘Nacre Interlude’ collection, August 2026.
LES THÈMES
Mid-Century Lacquer & Mother of Pearl Keepsake & Jewellery Box
An exceptionally elegant vintage lacquer box, finished in deep black lacquer and ornamented with finely worked mother-of-pearl inlay. More restrained than many traditional lacquer pieces, its beauty lies in the precision and delicacy of its decoration: slender lines of iridescent shell frame the lid in two concentric borders, finished at each corner with a small geometric motif. At its centre, an intricately rendered mother-of-pearl scene depicts fruiting branches alongside a small basket of fruit, with butterflies hovering above. Each tiny piece of shell has been carefully shaped and engraved with remarkably fine linear details, allowing the natural pink, silver and blue iridescence of the mother-of-pearl to emerge subtly against the glossy black ground. The box opens to reveal a beautifully simple interior finished in rich red lacquer, without fabric lining or compartments. Its generous proportions make it equally suited to storing jewellery and treasured objects or, particularly beautifully, personal stationery and correspondence on a writing desk. Ornamental without feeling ornate, the contrast between the expansive black lacquer surface and the almost graphic precision of the mother-of-pearl gives the piece a wonderfully timeless quality.
—
Product Details
Material: Lacquered Wood, Mother-of-Pearl
Vintage Condition: Very Good with Minimal Signs of Use
Origin & Era: China, Mid 20th-Century
Dimensions: 19cm L x 14.5cm W x 4.6cm H
Weight: 424 grams
Curated as part of Les Thèmes ‘Nacre Interlude’ collection, August 2026.
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