Box 1762 - 1763

This small, oval-shaped box, crafted by Jacques Michel Lemaire in 1762–63, demonstrates the 18th-century fascination with Chinoiserie, a style that drew inspiration from Chinese art and culture. The box is made of mother-of-pearl and silver, and features a delicate scene of figures in a landscape. The intricately detailed figures, trees, and birds, all characteristic of Chinoiserie, give the impression of a miniature world, reflecting the popular taste for exotic and distant cultures during this period. The box, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, is a beautiful example of this artistic trend.