Antique Chinese papier-mâché basket with black papercuts – China, circa 1930

This ancient Chinese papier-mâché basket with applied black papercuts and an interior lining of manuscript paper is a domestic container from northern China around 1930. Papier-mâché baskets have a long tradition in China, where they served as lightweight containers for seeds, threads, or small utensils. The body was then adorned with jianzhi (剪紙) cutouts — a folk art from northern China — featuring protective motifs of Foo lions and a central floral medallion. The body is made of successive layers of paper glued onto a mould, which is then removed. The interior lining is made of reused Chinese manuscript sheets, still legible, while the exterior has received black cutouts: a scalloped upper band with plant motifs, two facing lions, and a central medallion. A final layer of glue seals the whole. Details. Materials and techniques: Papier-mâché; applied black jianzhi cutouts; interior lining of manuscript paper. Place of origin: China. Period: Republican period. Date of manufacture: Around 1930. Dimensions: Length 33 cm – Depth 33 cm – Height 28 cm. Condition: Good. Wear consistent with age and use. Small old paper repair at the lower part.