French Wooden Black Lacquer Box

An early 20th-century lacquered papier-mâché box originally produced to house fine French soap from a Parisian perfumer. The lid is decorated with a richly detailed peacock motif, surrounded by gilded floral and bird elements that echo the aesthetic of Japanese maki-e, interpreted through European techniques such as stenciling, transfer decoration, and hand-applied finishing. Both decorative and historical, the piece reflects the cross-cultural design influences of the period while retaining a refined, object-like presence suitable for display.