Chinese Trunk with Painted Flowers in Elm, 1900

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This antique Chinese trunk with painted flowers in elm is a dowry chest with a sliding lid and loose floral … Read more This antique Chinese trunk with painted flowers in elm is a dowry chest with a sliding lid and loose floral decoration. It originates from northern China, from the Qing dynasty, where elm was dovetailed and lacquered in ochre before being painted.Unlike chests with a closed composition, this one carries neither frame nor border: the flowers are distributed freely across the front, as though they had settled there. It is a device of northern folk painting, quicker to execute and closer to domestic taste than to commissioned work.The case is solid elm with exposed dovetails at the corners. The lid, in two boards, slides over the upper edge and carries its front rail lacquered in red, the single accent of colour at the top. Sides and back are left undecorated.Over the ochre ground five sprays are painted: peony (mudan 牡丹) in pink and garnet, chrysanthemum (ju 菊) with fine petals, and small blue flowers among green leaves. The chrysanthemum is one of the Four Gentlemen and stands for contemplative retreat and longevity. The brushwork is quick, with a dark outline and pale fill.The ochre lacquer has gained a warm glaze and lets the elm grain show through. The painting has lost body, above all in the lower half, where contact with the floor has worn the colour. The red edge of the lid holds its intensity better.Compact and at seat height, it works as a side table, an entrance bench or storage in a bedroom. It suits rustic, japandi and contemporary interiors of warm palette. See less