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Antique painted trunk in pine wood – China, circa 1900
€695Bid from €625.50
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ProfessionalProduct description
This antique painted trunk in pine wood features a closed rectangular structure with hinged lid, hand-forged iron hinges and latch and gold-painted decoration with vegetal motifs and a central panel with human figures. It originates from northern China, from the late Qing dynasty, where pine was worked using mortise-and-tenon joinery and finished with polychrome paint over a natural lacquer ground.
In traditional Chinese furniture, painted trunks were trousseau pieces — part of the bridal dowry — and stored textiles, festival clothes, documents and personal items inside. The painted decoration on the front, sides and lid was a statement of domestic prosperity and a vehicle for family auspicious symbolism.
The body is built in solid pine. The structure is a closed rectangular volume with a hinged lid mounted on hand-forged iron hinges, with a central iron latch. The joinery is mortise-and-tenon over an internal frame and the sides finish in a small lower moulding. The interior keeps the bare pine, while the exterior is fully painted.
The front was originally covered with painted decoration in gold and red over a dark ground, with vegetal motifs in small framed quadrants and a central panel with human figures in an interior scene. Time has worn the gold pigments, leaving a heavily layered patina where the dark ground prevails over the gold and red remains. The central hand-forged iron lock is preserved intact.
With its contained size — around 85-90 cm in length — this trunk works as a bedside table, an auxiliary table or a central decorative piece in an entrance. It suits wabi-sabi, contemporary rustic, japandi and Asian-inspired interiors, where it brings a historical and narrative accent.
Details
Ref.: AM29016-22
Dimensions: Length 89 cm – Width 59 cm – Height 59 cm
Style: Qing Dynasty
Materials and techniques: Solid pine; hand-forged iron hardware; mortise-and-tenon joinery; painting over natural lacquer ground.
Place of origin: China
Period: Late Qing dynasty
Date of manufacture: Circa 1900
Condition: Good. Original paintwork and patina preserved with honest wear. Wear consistent with age and use.
This piece is part of the curated collection of Amaru Antiques, Barcelona.
ONE OF A KIND PIECE
Additional details:
- Brand: AMARU
- Style: Qing Dynasty
- Style: wabi-sabi
- Style: contemporary rustic
- Style: japandi
- Style: Asian-inspired
- Material: Pine
- Material: Paint
- Material: Lacquer
- Colour: Dark
- Period: Late Qing dynasty
Specifications
ConditionGoodColorsGold, RedMaterialIronHeight89 cmWidth59 cmDepth59 cm
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Seller information
About this seller
ProfessionalGelida (Barcelona), SpainOn Whoppah since July 2026 • 0 sales