Antique Chinese papier-mâché basket with floral patterns – China, circa 1930

This antique Chinese papier-mâché basket with polychrome floral patterns and green vertical stripes is a domestic container from northern China around 1930. The piece does not retain a manufacturer's label and is described by typology and region. Papier-mâché baskets were common items in rural Chinese homes, used for storing seeds, threads, papers, or small everyday treasures. Their lightweight and economical construction coexisted with wooden furniture and complemented domestic storage alongside pine boxes and ceramic jars. The body is made up of successive layers of glued paper over a clay or wicker mould, which is then removed, leaving a rigid, bulging volume. The surface is adorned with printed papers — orange chrysanthemums, red checked ribbons, and green vertical stripes — sealed with a final layer of glue. Details. Materials and techniques: Polychrome papier-mâché; successive layers of glued paper; floral printed surface. Place of origin: China. Period: Republican period. Date of manufacture: Circa 1930. Dimensions: Length 25 cm – Depth 25 cm – Height 29 cm. Condition: Good. Wear consistent with age and use. No manufacturer's labels retained.