A black inlaid (luotian) and gold-painted (miaojin) oval lacquer box and cover, the cover with mother-of-pearl inlaid decoration depicting a flowering prunus branch with details highlighted in red lacquer and gilt, the sides embellished with classic 'fragrant grass' scroll (xiangcao), with original box (defects and losses)
China, Song dynasty (960-1279), 13th/14th century
(l. 9 cm.)