This type of decorative technique is known as bai bao qian referring to the pattern inset with 'a hundred treasures'. A sandalwood box of this related design is in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated by J. Zhu, Treasures of the Forbidden City, no. 89, p. 224 (detail) and p.225, where the author notes that this technique originated from the Ming dynasty.

(US$15,000-20,000)