Once part of a 19th century Chinese wallscreen, this rectangular fretwork panel originally had a sliding panel of solid wood behind it that could be opened and closed to regulate light and air circulation. In place of the wood, a mirror now slides down into a slot behind the carved openwork, giving the panel a new purpose. The clever construction allows the mirror to be slipped out for easy cleaning. Rich red/gold elm wood fretwork in a modified key pattern is notched around the top and bottom o... Click for details
Beautifully designed and constructed of curved wood staves with a wrapped bamboo handle, this lidded container was used to carry tools needed by lamp lighters on their rounds. Five bands of ornamental carving encircle the basket. The lid is centered with a round carving representing the four points of the compass, and the base is carved with a diaper pattern in key design. The carvings, though plentiful, are restrained in execution and serve to emphasize the wonderfully balanced shape of the con... Click for details
Rich reddish-brown elm wood, brass bands and side carrying handles make this 19th century Chinese shoe trunk a handsome accent piece. Well designed and crafted boxes in a variety of shapes and sizes were used throughout China to hold shoes. This one is constructed of staves held together by metal bands. A metal hasp swings down from the lid to act as a lock. The front half of the lid is removable. The box is in excellent condition.
Dimensions: height 12-1/2" (32 cm), width 18-1/2" (47 cm), dept... Click for details
Chinese cabinet made of jumu (elm) wood with tapering A-line design, deep translucent red lacquer finish, two drawers at bottom, 2 removable shelves inside, 74" high x 39 1/2" wide x 21" deep.
19th century Tibetan men’s saddle. Decorated in iron meander patterned brackets and fittings with sharkskin covering front and back. The front and back are also made with a hardwood, called “saddle wood”,(appropriately enough), by Tibetans and is highly prized and very expensive to have a saddle made with this wood today, unfortunately I do not know the botanical or English name. The lower frame appears to be made of a slightly softer wood perhaps elm. All the parts and repairs on this are old a... Click for details
This low bench with four drawers was used by a street barber in 19th century China as a portable stool for his customers, to carry his tools and as a money box. Since such benches essentially served as the barber's shop, they were solidly built, generally with widely splayed legs, and usually with some decorative touches. Note the carving along the bottom edges. For an old illustration of a barber carrying a similar bench on one end of a long pole, balanced on the other end by a small stove for ... Click for details
Vignettes from Chinese opera are painted on the sides and top of this 19th century octagonal shoe trunk. Scenes painted primarily in orange/red, cream and black are framed in red and blue and float on a striking turquoise background. This trunk, or lidded box, is one of the many types of decorative containers once used in Chinese households to store shoes. It has metal carrying handles on the sides, and the lid is removable. The size and shape make it adaptable for use as an interesting small si... Click for details
Pierced carvings of foliage widely spaced around a framed rectangular relief carving give this 18th century Chinese elm wood panel a light and airy look. The central carving depicts a three-tiered village scene with a stylized mountain in the background. A horizontal pierced carving inset at the top of the panel represents foliage, and a relief carving inset at the panel's bottom depicts a bird and a flowering branch. All the elements are set within frames so the piece has a balanced, ordered fe... Click for details
Just the right size and shape to hold magazines, this container was used in early 20th century China to carry water from a well. It is made of nicely curved willow wood staves banded with brass rings. With its oval form and tall, stable handle, the design not only was appropriate in an ergonomic sense but also was aesthetically pleasing, the hallmark of many utilitarian items from old China. The handle is carved with two pomegranates, symbol of fertility. The piece is in excellent condition. Di... Click for details
Banded with braided bamboo, this 19th century Chinese pine shoe box has an unusual and graceful form. Curved wood staves fitted together in barrel-fashion flair out to handle level then taper to a smaller footprint. The front half of the lid is removable. Hardware, both decorative and utilitarian, includes a lid hasp that swings down over a metal plate to lock the lid in place, side carrying handles and three metal straps that secure the back portion of the lid to the box. Small boxes such as th... Click for details
