General information:

This piece was made during the reign of the Yongle emperor, so it is dated between 1403-24. The piece itself is a red lacquer box with decorations inlaid with gold, it also contains a brass lock and key. This box, following its name, was made to hold a sutra (a sacred Buhdist text). The five clawed dragon on this box suggests that it was made in an imperial workshop, so it was used by someone of high standing who was a Buhdist. 

The material used is lacquer, which is a highly toxic resin. So in order for people to use it they had to find work arounds. The red color symbolizes good fortune. Since the box still has its original coloring and lock, one can tell how well preserved it is, since lacquer is an organic material. 

Eli’s Observations:

As it’s often seen in Chinese cultures, red is a lucky color. One common example of this is during the lunar new year where people dress in red clothing in order to foster luck in the upcoming year. The dragon on the box can be seen soaring through the sky, this is known from the cloud designs on the box.