Lacquerware is a distinctive artform of Myanmar, which is said to date back to the 13th Century. Lacquer art most probably originates from China. The process of creating lacquerware involves the extraction of sap from a varnish tree (the Melanorrhoea Usitatissima tree in the case of Myanmar). The tree sap is then heated and applied to whichever object the maker is producing.  Following each coat of lacquer, the object needs to cure (dry), usually underground. Once a layer of lacquer has cured, another layer is applied. After the application of several layers of lacquer, articles were traditionally sanded with products such as buffalo horn and teak wood sawdust. The entire production process can take several months.

These boxes were commissioned by Larsen & Thompson.