Antique Chinese Saloon Chair, 1890s

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Antique Chinese Saloon Chair, China, late 19th century. This colourful and extraordinary decorated antique saloon or wedding chair from China … Read more Antique Chinese Saloon Chair, China, late 19th century. This colourful and extraordinary decorated antique saloon or wedding chair from China is really something else. The origins or the Chinese saloon chair go back more than 4000 years. Used to carry the rich and powerful, these types of chairs were a way of transportation in ancient China. This example is exactly that: a chair used to transport rich and important people on the streets of 19th century China. These chairs also had an important role at wedding ceremonies. There also were more modest types of saloon chairs available, used for transportation of the working class. These chairs were smaller, less decorated and made from other materials - for example bamboo. One of the highlights of this particular saloon chair is the quality of the carvings, paintings and other decoration. Every detail is executed with skill and craft. The four sides are decorated with paintings, Chinese characters, gold painted wood carvings and hand painted glass. On top there is a pagoda roof with wood carvings and polychrome painted wood sculptures. Please note the quality of the wood carvings, the wonderfully patinated paintwork and the quality of the painted scenes on both sides. The saloon chair is in a very honest and untouched antique condition with signs of wear, patinated paintwork and some pieces of trim missing. See less