Chinese lacquer box

box for shawl

Box which held silk shawl 95.117.24; probably acquired by Captain Timothy M. Benson during voyages of bark MARTHA DAVIS, 1878-1889; box is square board, with brown lacquer finish; floral leaf and tendril designs at center of lid and at corners; some losses; remnants of paper cover, "T.M. Benson" written on paper cover; small red and black Chinese characters on paper