Burmese Antique Lacquer Cylindrical Boxes Set o f 3

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Burmese Antique Lacquer Cylindrical Boxes Set o f 3

Burmese lacquer cylindrical boxes, most likely betel boxes (Kun-it), made from woven bamboo coated with multiple layers of lacquer. Such containers were used to store the various ingredients required for chewing betel, an important social custom throughout Myanmar.

The smallest box is decorated in a simple polished vermilion-red lacquer with only a few fine black encircling lines. Its restrained appearance suggests either a more utilitarian example or one intended to emphasize the beauty of the lacquer finish rather than elaborate decoration. The body is cylindrical with a fitted lid, and the smooth surface has developed a soft patina through use.

The central box is the finest of the three. It is decorated using the traditional Yun technique, in which intricate floral scrolls and geometric motifs are engraved into successive layers of red and black lacquer. The exceptionally dense decoration covers almost the entire body, while narrow ornamental bands frame the central register above and below. The extraordinary precision of the carving and the richness of the design suggest a high-quality workshop, probably dating to the late 19th or early 20th centur

The third box is also decorated in the Yun technique but features a more open composition. The principal decorative band is carved with repeating double-gourd (hulu) motifs set against a finely engraved floral background. The gourd, widely adopted throughout East and Southeast Asia, symbolizes prosperity, longevity, abundance, and protection from evil. The broad undecorated red lacquer bands above and below create an elegant contrast with the richly carved central panel.

All three boxes were constructed from woven bamboo (or horsehair bamboo) covered with numerous layers of lacquer derived from the sap of the Melanorrhoea usitata tree. After repeated applications and polishing, the surface was engraved and filled with colored lacquer to create the characteristic red-and-black decoration. This labor-intensive process could take several months to complete and represents one of Myanmar's most distinctive artistic traditions.

Left box Small damages on lacquer.