Inlaid zitan wood covered box, China, 2nd half of the 16th century.

Inlaid zitan wood covered box, China, 2nd half of the 16th century. Late Ming dynasty rectangular box of zitan wood, a rare and much-prized tropical hardwood. The cover is decorated on the top with pieces of inlaid green stained ivory, coral, lapis, soapstone and mother-of-pearl depicting a pair of mandarin ducks beside rocks framed by overhanging sprays of flowering tree, chrysanthemums, peonies, berries, a prunus tree and two birds.The interior of the box is fitted with a plain detachable tray. From the workshop of Chou Chu. (Photo by Museum of East Asian Art/Heritage Images/Getty Images)