Thank you for the information you provided.

Yes, usually four people are listed as outstanding dealers of Ming and Qing furniture on the websites of auction houses Sotheby's and Christie's. These are Grace Wu, Andy Hei, Nicholas Grindley and Robert Ellsworth.

As for the price of the box, as I understand it, this may be a surprise?))

That's great news from Grace as she's one of the most respected opinions on wood. 

So its completely Zitan which is a bonus along with 18th C.

Mark 

This is a response from Grace Wu Bruce and from Nicholas Grindley

The first answer has arrived!!!

I convey the entire text verbatim: “From the shape of the foot and the overall design I think, from the photographs, that your box is zitan and dates from the mid to late 18th century. The maker has used the more decorative side of the zitan, which is why it looks a little like macassar, for the outside. I would very much doubt that two different timbers are involved here.”

And a question about the design of such boxes in the Qing Dynasty. Why do they put a board loosely on the bottom? Do they pull it out and use it somehow? Or what is its purpose?

Thank you in advance for your help

It reminds me of my tree, but I don't think my box uses zitan on the outside.

Thank you very much for your contact. I wrote. I will wait for a response.

Right now I am looking at Christie's again and I can say that zitan is absolutely different on different items.

One item says it is made of zitan, but the color is like huanghuali...and the texture of the wood is different.

Mark