In a letter dated January 1992 the artist wrote ‘This work was made during the build up to the 1991 Gulf War, and reflected the fear and uncertainty about the approaching conflict. On the lid, the central (but inadequate) ‘peace’ figure is flanked by two jockeys: one mounted on a camel (representing Iraq) and the other on an elephant (representing republican America). The two jockeys whip up their beasts into a frenzy, though they are roped together at their tails. The scene is completed by the sinister monkey/man, posed to cut the rope and unleash the forces of war. Internally, the vessel bears a biblical plague of insects.’