Petite Burmese Gilt Filigree Box

This petite square box dates to the early 20th-century and is decorated in a style of Burmese lacquerware known as thayo hmanzi shwe cha. Crafted of simple bamboo basketry, the box is patterned in low relief using a putty-like substance known as thayo, comprised of lacquer sap and sawdust. This sculptural exterior was then gilded for an ornate finish. Although this decorative technique is often reserved for devotional use, this small box was likely used for general storage of small items and lives on today a beautiful keepsake of the past.