Antique Carved Wood Durian Shaped Box with Interior Lacquer and Gilding sewing vice who appears to be sprinkling

who appears to be sprinkling magic dust in the air

While I’d like to imagine the maker of the vessel had Magritte’s famous painting “The Treachery of Images” in mind

“Tommy Ruthven

with an opening of 7/8" across

flower-embroidered tunic

Antique Carved Wood Durian Shaped Box with Interior Lacquer and Gilding sewing vice who appears to be sprinklingThis may just be my favorite little box ever. It took me a while, but thanks to the help of Instagram followers! I have now learned that it is shaped like a Durian fruit, native to Southeast Asia, and I have now found a few examples of others similar all quite extraordinary (and quite precious!) It seems these may be specifically native to the town of Palembang in Sumatra, Indonesia. The quality and wear to that lacquer makes me fairly certain it is