Antique Chinese Qing Dynasty Painted Dongbei Chest

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Description

Antique chinese painted trunk in pine wood, traditional storage furniture with monochrome decoration originating from dongbei and dated circa 1930. … Read more Antique chinese painted trunk in pine wood, traditional storage furniture with monochrome 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 white monochrome 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 traditional carpentry uses no nails.

the front face retains its original white-on-vermilion decoration. A double chinese meander border (huiwen 回紋) frames the central field — a symbol of unbroken continuity and unending prosperity. In the four corners of the frame appear small floral cartouches; on the sides, vases with floral arrangements; and in the upper central cartouche, a decorative spray. The central field is laid out as a grid of cartouches with varied flowers — peonies (mudan 牡丹), emblem of prosperity; chrysanthemums (ju 菊), one of the four gentlemen, associated with longevity; lilies and orchids — interspersed with small butterflies (die 蝶), symbol of longevity and conjugal joy. The white-on-vermilion technique echoes cizhou ceramics and ming lacquerware of high decorative value.

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 original contrast between the white pigment and the deep red, with the soft wear of an original finish nearly a century old. 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. Its monochrome iconography and its contained volume are its greatest value.

details

dimensions: length 78 cm – width 57 cm – height 66 cm
style: painted chinese utilitarian furniture
materials and techniques: solid pine, white paint on vermilion ground, wrought iron hardware; hinged lid, traditional joinery without nails, double 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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