Chest

About this object

Narrative

Purchased by the donor from a Sotheby's auction (NY) in 2019. Previously purchased by Trotta-Bono Ltd, from the George Terasaki collection.

Physical description

Large lidded wooden chest. The exterior of the chest (part a) shows finely grooved texturing on surface. Each panel has borders at all four edges, with fine, vertical, parallel lines throughout the centre. Five parallel grooves run horizontally along the upper and lower edges of the chest, with diagonal grooves down each adjacent corner. The corners and base are secured with root-like(?) ties, wood pegs and nails. The exterior has a dark brown-black colour. The interior of the chest shows carving tool marks. There is a rectangular piece of wood along the interior, bottom edge of one side panel. The lid (part b) is flat on underside, with an upright ridge along the long front and back edges. The side edges are also carved with fine vertical parallel lines. The lid is composed of three pieces of wood pegged and nailed together. The underside surface of the lid is covered in carving tool marks.