This ceramic covered box is painted with iron-brown geometric patterns and floral motifs. Sawankhalok in North-central Thailand, is one of the largest ceramic-producing centers in Southeast Asia during the 14th century. Thai wares such as this box have been found widely distributed from the Philippines, Java and Sulawesi, to Japan. In Southeast Asia, they were often used as ‘pusaka’ or heirlooms, while in Japan, Thai ceramics were used in the tea ceremony tradition.
