This rectangular wood box is heavily decorated on the cover and sides with mother-of-pearl inlaid in black lacquer. The decoration shows scenes of trade along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. Various foreign trading ships, including Chinese junks and tall three-masted European vessels, can be seen sailing along the river, with figures in broad brimmed European hats and with flattened heads (possibly representing the cropped hair of Siamese coolies) engaged in a range of activities on the shore, including fishing, cannon firing, and loading produce onto carts.Boxes of this form and size may have been used to store jewellery, betel, cigars, or other items. It includes a removable shallow internal tray in red lacquer. Mother-of-pearl boxes of this type typically feature repeating floral motifs and patterns: examples with scenes of trade, particularly with depictions of foreigners, are extremely rare. The decoration and provenance of this box indicate that it was produced for export to western markets or for a western patron.
