Antique Chinese Qing Dynasty Painted Dongbei Chest

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Description

Antique chinese painted trunk in pine wood, traditional storage furniture with polychrome decoration originating from dongbei and dated circa 1930. … Read more Antique chinese painted trunk in pine wood, traditional storage furniture with polychrome decoration originating from dongbei and dated circa 1930. Originates from dongbei, in northeastern china, from the early 20th century, where pine was worked using traditional joinery without nails and decorated on the front face with polychrome paint on a vermilion ground.

in the rural houses of dongbei in the early 20th century, storage trunks were central pieces of the domestic trousseau. They held clothing, textiles and personal belongings as part of the bridal dowry (jiazhuang), and that is why they carried painted decoration on the front face — the only one visible when the trunk rested against the wall. They are part of the utilitarian tradition of northeastern china.

built in solid pine. The hinged lid opens on original wrought iron hinges. The edges carry a metal band as reinforcement, and the traditional carpentry uses no nails.

the front face retains its original polychrome decoration on a vermilion red ground, organised in three horizontal bands and framed by a double white-and-blue border carrying the classic chinese meander pattern (huiwen 回紋). In the upper and central bands individual sprays are arranged: peonies with pink and orange petals (mudan 牡丹), the “queen of flowers” in china, emblem of prosperity and honour; white chrysanthemums (ju 菊), one of the four gentlemen of chinese art, associated with longevity; and polychrome lilies — a traditional symbol of fertility and descendants. Two butterflies (die 蝶) alight among the sprays, a symbol of longevity and, paired with the flowers, the classical reading of conjugal joy. The lower band incorporates a pair of red and green plumed birds among orchids, a traditional motif expressing the wish for conjugal fidelity and lasting union. The huiwen border around the composition stands for unbroken continuity.

the patina records the passage of time: the pine of the side faces and the lid shows a warm aged tone with the grain clearly legible, while the painted front retains the density of the original pigment with soft wear in the contact areas. The hardware shows a darkened surface through natural oxidation. The structure remains solid.

it fits naturally in contemporary rustic interiors, country houses or thematic galleries. It works as a storage piece at the foot of the bed, a low bench in an entrance or a decorative support in a corner. The iconographic richness of its painted front is its greatest value.

details

dimensions: length 87 cm – width 56 cm – height 60 cm
style: painted chinese utilitarian furniture
materials and techniques: solid pine, polychrome paint on vermilion ground, wrought iron hardware; hinged lid, traditional joinery without nails, huiwen border around the composition
place of origin: dongbei, china
period: late qing dynasty / early republic of china (circa 1930)
date of manufacture: circa 1930
condition / notes: sound structure. Original patina and paint. Possible marks and traces of use. Wear consistent with age and use.


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