Chinese chest with original painting – China, circa 1900

Medium Chinese chest in solid pine, with original patina and paint, originating from China and dated around 1900. A functional piece of mid-storage, halfway between a robust domestic transport chest and a decorative chest with a strong presence, representative of provincial Chinese furniture at the stable mid-scale of the turn of the 19th-20th century. In the bedrooms and storage spaces of Chinese homes at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, medium chests with original patina and paint served practical functions of strong presence: they stored clothes, textiles, and belongings with significant visual presence, functioned as comfortable and stable seating benches, and created visual focal points with their aged patinas. The medium height — 55 cm — allowed for versatile use as seating. The width of 74 cm provided robust capacity. The depth of 51 cm offered very secure stability. Examples with characteristic original patina and paint are highly sought after. Details. Dimensions: Width: 74 cm Depth: 51 cm Height: 55 cm. Style: Chinese utilitarian furniture, medium chest with original patina and paint. Materials and techniques: Solid pine; drop-down front lid with wrought iron hinges; original hasp lock; very aged original paint; metal band reinforcements; original handles. Place of origin: China. Period: Late 19th – early 20th century. Date of manufacture: Around 1900. Condition / Observations: Very good. Very aged original patina and paint without invasive restorations, completely solid structure, strong mid-presence, functional hardware.