Dutch Colonial Double-Sided Sawasa Box Depicting Monkeys

The shape of this elongated, octagonal box, is based on that of a 17th century Dutch tobacco box. Additionally, the top and bottom edges are bevelled, and the corners are clipped. The box is also double-faced – the top and the bottom are equally decorated, as are the sides.

Decorated with the sawasa technique (also known as Tonkinware), the box is decorated in black high relief against a gold, tooled ground. Shown on both the top and the bottom are monkeys cavorting beneath falling vines. It is the only example of sawasa of which we are aware in which monkeys are the primary animal shown. The interior is gilded.

Most sawasa items were produced in Japan for the Dutch in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is also possible that sawasa items were commissioned by the Dutch from artisans in (or near) Batavia in what was then the Dutch East Indies (largely, modern Indonesia today), or from Tonkin (what is now northern Vietnam). The items were not necessarily made to be sent to Holland but for use by the Dutch who were residing in Asia at the time.

Sawasa items were made from an alloy of copper with gold, silver and arsenic which were then finished with a surface decoration of black lacquer and mercury fire gilding (gold plating). Sawasa items typically have panels that are chiseled in high relief with intricate patterns and Oriental scenes.

Related examples of sawasa elongated, octagonal boxes are illustrated in de Bruijn (1998, pp. 62-66).

The box here is in fine condition and is without dents, splits or repairs. The lid does not sit evenly as it once might have – a product of age and use.

See another example.