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Five small boxes inside one larger; all black with gold design of central oval and ornament and containing mother of pearl game pieces.
games
japanning
mother of pearl
wood (plant material)
Case, Game
Case, Game
In the economically volatile years immediately following the American Revolution, the China Trade held out the promise of immeasurable wealth. One of the first to explore the trade was Major Samuel Shaw, who was aboard the first American ship to sail to China, the Empress of China. Shaw returned from this and subsequent trips with a host of personal items, including this lacquer box, a gift for his sister-in-law, Abigail Quincy. Her initials are painted on the lids of the set's boxes and carved onto the mother-of-pearl counters. The box is now on display at the Quincy House in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Painted on lids of 3 small inner boxes: ""AQ""
Original to Josiah Quincy House (Quincy, Mass.),
Unknown
China
2 3/8 x 11 5/8 x 10 (HxWxD) (inches)
Gift of Edmund Quincy
1972.27
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