Chinese chest with original painting – China, circa 1900

This antique painted pine chest features a façade on an ochre yellow background with two symmetrical panels displaying compositions of peonies, lotuses, carp, and butterflies framed by a huiwen frieze at the corners. It originates from northern China, dating from the late 19th or early 20th century, where the pine was crafted using dovetail joints and decorated with hand-applied paint on a coloured background. In traditional Chinese furniture, medium-sized painted chests were part of the domestic trousseau and often the bridal dowry. They were used to store textiles, festive clothing, and ritual objects. Ochre yellow was a common choice in popular furniture from northern and central China — a colour associated with autumn, agricultural abundance, and domestic prosperity.