Restoration of a Yuan Dynasty long rectangular black lacquer box inlaid with mother-of-pearl
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(1. Shanghai Museum, Shanghai 200003, China;2. Heze Museum, Heze 274000, China)

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    Abstract:

    Fragments of a black lacquered wooden box inlaid with mother-of-pearl, excavated from a Yuan Dynasty shipwreck, are part of the collection of Heze Museum. The box, made of Nanmu wood, features mother-of-pearl inlays on the exterior and black lacquer on the interior, and is decorated with bronze door rings and inscriptions reading “Yishang”. These fragments are one of the earlier mother-of-pearl lacquer box relics of such scale ever discovered in China. To address deterioration issues such as wood decay, mother-of-pearl peeling, and metal corrosion, the restoration team developed a scientific conservation plan based on the results of multiple analytical techniques, including wood identification, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry, microscopy, and pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Using a “rebirth” technique combined with wet tissue paper pressure correction, polyvinyl acetate reinforcement of the base layer, and white tile ash filling, the team successfully restored the original form of the artifact. The treatment also revealed its unique craftsmanship, including the use of bamboo and wood dowels instead of traditional mortise and tenon joints, providing important physical evidence for the study of Yuan Dynasty lacquerware. The restored artifact has been displayed, presenting excellent overall results.

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History
  • Received:November 06,2025
  • Revised:March 20,2026
  • Adopted:
  • Online: July 13,2026
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