Wood and ivory square tray, Vietnam or China for Vietnam, 19th centuryThe sides lined with rectangular plates of finely openwork ivory decorated with dragons in the clouds in pursuit of the sacred pearl. The pearl is symbolized in the center of the decoration by a missing mother-of-pearl element. The frame of the openwork part is solid and decorated with flowers and foliage. At the base of each plate is another openwork element decorated with dragons in the clouds and a turtle at each end. The four assembled plates form a vertical foot at each corner, which was originally reinforced with silver or gold spandrels (as suggested by a small element that has remained glued), which have now disappeared. Old collection label with a scratched inscription glued underneath. Height: 7.2 cm; 25 x 25.5 cm; gross weight: 593 g