CHINESE CARVED HARDWOOD STORAGE TRUNK WITH SCENIC RELIEF PANELS

OVERVIEW:
A SUBSTANTIAL CHINESE STORAGE TRUNK OF EXCEPTIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP, CONSTRUCTED IN SOLID HARDWOOD WITH ELABORATE HAND-CARVED RELIEF PANELS DEPICTING TRADITIONAL SCENES OF MARITIME COMMERCE, FIGURES IN LANDSCAPE SETTINGS, AND DECORATIVE FLORAL MOTIFS. THE TRUNK EXEMPLIFIES THE QUALITY OF CHINESE EXPORT FURNITURE PRODUCED DURING THE LATE QING DYNASTY AND EARLY REPUBLICAN PERIOD, WHEN SUCH PIECES WERE HIGHLY SOUGHT BY WESTERN COLLECTORS AND MERCHANTS.

THE EXTERIOR SURFACES ARE ENTIRELY CARVED IN HIGH RELIEF, WITH THE TOP PANEL FEATURING AN INTRICATE CENTRAL SCENE OF FIGURES AND VESSELS WITHIN A DECORATIVE BORDER OF SCROLLWORK AND FLORAL ELEMENTS. THE FRONT PANEL DISPLAYS A DRAMATIC MARITIME SCENE WITH A TRADITIONAL JUNK VESSEL, FIGURES, AND LANDSCAPE FEATURES RENDERED IN CONSIDERABLE DEPTH. THE SIDES AND BASE CONTINUE THE DECORATIVE PROGRAMME WITH ADDITIONAL CARVED PANELS AND ORNAMENTAL BORDERS. THE INTERIOR REVEALS THE PRACTICAL CONSTRUCTION: THE TRUNK CONTAINS A REMOVABLE TRAY WITH DIVIDED COMPARTMENTS, AND THE BASE SECTION PROVIDES SUBSTANTIAL STORAGE CAPACITY.

SPECIFICATIONS:
- PERIOD: LATE 19TH TO EARLY 20TH CENTURY, CHINESE EXPORT FURNITURE
- PRIMARY MATERIAL: SOLID HARDWOOD, LIKELY CAMPHORWOOD OR SIMILAR DENSE ASIAN TIMBER
- SECONDARY MATERIALS: BRASS LOCK MECHANISM, BRASS HANDLES, WOODEN INTERIOR FITTINGS
- CONSTRUCTION: HAND-CARVED RELIEF PANELS THROUGHOUT. SOLID TIMBER SIDES WITH MORTISE AND TENON JOINERY. REMOVABLE INTERIOR TRAY WITH COMPARTMENTS. BRASS HARDWARE MOUNTED WITH PERIOD-APPROPRIATE FASTENERS.
- HARDWARE: BRASS LOCK PLATE WITH WORKING MECHANISM. BRASS CARRYING HANDLES TO SIDES. BRASS CORNER REINFORCEMENTS. ALL HARDWARE SHOWS NATURAL OXIDATION CONSISTENT WITH AGE.
- DIMENSIONS: HEIGHT 58 CM, WIDTH 105 CM, DEPTH 50 CM
- INTERIOR: REMOVABLE CEDAR-LINED TRAY WITH THREE COMPARTMENTS. LOWER STORAGE SECTION WITH SMOOTH-RUNNING DRAWER MECHANISM.

CONDITION: THE TRUNK DISPLAYS HONEST WEAR CONSISTENT WITH ITS AGE AND USE. THE TIMBER SURFACES SHOW NATURAL PATINA WITH MINOR SCRATCHES TO THE TOP PANEL AND EXPECTED SURFACE MARKS. THE CARVED RELIEF WORK REMAINS CRISP AND WELL-DEFINED THROUGHOUT, WITH NO SIGNIFICANT LOSSES TO THE CARVED ELEMENTS. THE BRASS HARDWARE EXHIBITS OXIDATION AND PATINA APPROPRIATE TO THE PERIOD; THE LOCK MECHANISM FUNCTIONS CORRECTLY. ALL STRUCTURAL JOINTS REMAIN SOUND. THE INTERIOR FITTINGS ARE INTACT AND OPERATIONAL. NO ACTIVE WOODWORM OR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE IS PRESENT. THIS IS A PIECE THAT SHOWS GENUINE AGE AND USE RATHER THAN RESTORATION

Item Size: Height: 120cm, Width: 120cm, Depth: 120cm, Weight: 10Kg

Condition: Fair

221420+1

Location of item: 69 Manchester Road, Carrara, QLD, Australia

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