A Vintage Cinnabar Lacquer Fruit Bowl

A vintage cinnabar lacquer fruit bowl, circa 1920. This piece originated in the Shan states of Burma, adjacent to Thailand.  The Shans are famous for their sturdy and colorful lacquerware containers. The lacquer is decorative as well as practical; it is made from slow-drying tree sap and repels both water and insects. The exact purpose of this box is unknown. The wave pattern is often found on food platters. The piece dates to the late 19th Century.