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
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
Originally used in China to store rice, this handsome 19th century covered container is a perfect size for use as a small side table. The wood is Chinese pine, aged and worn to a rich patina. It is constructed of a number of curved staves fitted together to form a drum shape. Metal carrying rings on each side and one on the lid add interest to the design. The lid fits securely and is quite stable. The piece is in excellent condition. Dimensions: height 14 1/2" (37 cm), diameter 18 1/2" (47 cm).
Roundels of flowers float randomly across the doors on this early 19th century painted cabinet that originated in Shanxi Province, China. The designs, mellowed over time, are black with a few remaining touches of gilt over a wonderful red background. Sides, top and back are black. This small Shanxi cabinet, with its unusual and authentic old designs, is a find as a collector's piece as well as a charming and useful piece of furniture. The two doors swing out on wood peg hinges and are removable.... Click for details
From the Chinese countryside south of Shanghai in Zhejiang Province, this early 20th century wood and bamboo container has a faded, softened painting of a courtyard scene on the lid. Gilt paintings of auspicious flowers and endless knots, also attractively muted over time, decorate the perimeter of the lower compartment of the container. Boxes such as this were used as portable food containers and servers at wedding celebrations and other festivals. This one has a removable upper container that ... Click for details
The clean, restrained lines of this pair of benches from the early 1800s are typical of Ming styling that remained in favor among some Chinese artisans until late in the Qing Dynasty. Mat seats add interest to the severity of the black finish, which is worn along the edges, giving a nice patina. Proportions and detailing are excellent, including fine beading and shaping around the perimeter and a small, curved design carved on the two outer sides of each foot. It is unusual to find a pair of ben... Click for details
