Antique Chinese Painted Trunk

Details

Description

Antique chinese painted trunk in pine wood, provincial furniture with red paint and inscription originating from northern china and dated … Read more Antique chinese painted trunk in pine wood, provincial furniture with red paint and inscription originating from northern china and dated circa 1920. Originates from northern china, from the early 20th century, where local pine was worked with joinery reinforced by forged iron straps, and painted in vermilion red with white calligraphic inscriptions.

painted trunks with calligraphic inscriptions had a practical identification function — of owner, content or destination — in transport, collective storage or trade contexts. The presence of characters on the front allowed the piece to be recognised in warehouses, caravans and markets. Its functional and testimonial character distinguishes it from purely domestic trunks.

built in solid pine using traditional joinery reinforced with forged iron straps along edges and corners, ensuring solidity for transport. The rectangular case has a hinged lid with a front closure fitting and rope side handles for carrying. The front concentrates the decoration and inscription.

the front retains the original vermilion paint, today heavily worn, on which chinese characters in white pigment have been applied across two horizontal lines. The inscription identifies the content or destination of the trunk in its original use. The painting is partly lost, which adds a testimonial character proper to utilitarian furniture preserved without restoration.

the patina retains the original vermilion with broad abrasions exposing the wood, and the now-fragmentary calligraphic characters. The sheen is matte. The iron straps show natural oxidation. The structure remains solid.

it fits naturally in wabi-sabi, industrial with a chromatic accent and contemporary rustic interiors. It works as a low coffee table, a storage piece at the foot of a bed or an autonomous decorative piece. The presence of the inscription and the worn red paint give it a singular narrative character.

details

dimensions: length 73 cm – width 43 cm – height 55 cm
style: chinese provincial furniture, painted utilitarian trunk
materials and techniques: solid pine, vermilion paint, white pigment, forged iron hardware and straps; traditional joinery, front with calligraphic inscription, rope side handles
place of origin: northern china
period: early republic of china (circa 1920)
date of manufacture: circa 1920
condition / notes: sound structure. Original paint and calligraphy with broad wear. Iron straps with natural oxidation. Wear consistent with age and use.


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