Shark Skin Cabinet
Late 19th Century ~ Early 20th Century
Height 28.0cm / Width 67.8cm / Depth 37.8cm
 
On the center of outer surface, turtle shell is inland. A dragon and a phoenix are inland with shark skin. To make it more vivid and curvilinear, the tips of the two lines are twisted. The big cloud is made of a curved mother-of-pearl cut along its pattern, and hammered down on the surface. On the spaces in between the clouds, there are thin-cut mezzotints placed along the outer curves of the clouds. This technique was used on cabinets and wardrobes, from end of 19th century to the beginning of 20th century. By looking at the shape and size of the dragon and phoenix, it is presumed that this box was used to store the uniform of a high-rank government officer.