Decorated Burmese Lacquerware Kun-It BLW48

Referred to in Burmese as kun-it, this antique lacquerware box is from Bagan, Burma. The Kun-it or betel box is an indispensable item of hospitality in a Burmese household. Interlocking designs which create an attractive framework for other motifs are popular in Burmese decorative art. This piece is incised with one of the most popular patterns referred to as ku-nan-kan-byat (Yunnan semi-circle design), against a background of thousands of scarcely discernible pin dots – a remarkably labor intensive process. The upper surface of the lid features a parrot in black along with a line of Burmese script. The color of the lacquer is particularly deep and rich, retaining an attractive luster.