The metal mounted chest is rarely seen in works of zitan or huanghuali, it is simple but yet meticulous in areas of details. The raw material of zitan is of a superb quality with a finely grained surface and meticulously mounted in metal on the outer sides. The central rectangular lock plate on the opening and the side looped handles are all meticulously rendered to ensure durability. Similar metal-mounted chest were found dated to early Ming. Other examples of gold painted wooden chest appeared as early as the Yuan dynasty. While the Mid-late Ming chest of similar form were rendered with huanghuali and were rarely seen during the Qing Dynasty. The design and form of the present lot is very similar to another chest presently residing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, dated to the Yongle reign (Fig.1).