American demand for exotic Chinese imports increased with the onset of direct trading between China and the United States in 1784. While President, George Washington took advantage of the wide variety of Chinese luxury goods arriving in New York and Philadelphia and purchased several lacquerware pieces, likely for use by Martha Washington or one of her granddaughters: Martha, Eleanor, or Eliza Parke Custis. This box was originally part of a larger set within the drawer of a dressing glass which descended in the family of Eliza Parke Custis Law. Such elegant containers were likely used to store cosmetic powders or accessories such as jewelry and hair pins.

See also the dressing glass W-315 and boxes W-543/A-D and W-221/B-H.