Vintage Mid-Century Burmese Black & Gold Shwe Zawa Lacquer Chinthe Box

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This beautiful vintage Burmese lacquerware box is a remarkable mid-century piece of history and fine craftsmanship, dating precisely to the … Read more This beautiful vintage Burmese lacquerware box is a remarkable mid-century piece of history and fine craftsmanship, dating precisely to the 1950s.

This exceptional piece carries an important, documented diplomatic provenance. It was originally purchased in Rangoon, Burma, by the current owner's aunt while she was stationed there serving as a US diplomat in the early 1960s, and it has been meticulously kept within the family ever since.

Known traditionally in Myanmar (formerly Burma) as a kun-it, this box showcases the exquisite shwe zawa technique, an intricate decorative art form featuring highly detailed black and gold leaf designs applied over a glossy black background.

The lid features a prominent central medallion depicting a beautifully hand-rendered mythical creature known as a chinthe (or foo dog), a significant cultural symbol of protection and strength in Burmese art.

The central medallion is framed by an elaborate, dense backdrop of traditional scrolling foliate patterns and precision hand-painted scrollwork that wraps seamlessly around the sides of the container.

Measuring 7 inches in length, 4.25 inches in width, and 2.375 inches in height, this versatile, lidded collector's piece functions beautifully as a sophisticated vanity box, a desk organizer, or a rich accent piece within an Asian art or vintage decor collection. See less