Ridged Carrying Box

This unusual wooden basket dates to the late 19th-century and may have been used as a carrying box for transporting meals and snacks. The carved wooden body has a flared shape and a short footed base, the sides textured by a pattern of gadroons. The lid features a central relief carving of a fish in water holding a lotus bud, a visual pun for harmony and contentment. Two lengths of thin bamboo form the arched handle and a layer of black lacquer coats the basket interior.