Painted Opera Chest From Shanxi - 19th Century Finish - Black Lacquer This sun bleached 6 door

This sun bleached 6 door sideboard is made in the traditional way using pine & poplar woods using wood reclaimed from old doors & buildings

each painted with six phoenixes surrounded by leafy flowering peonies

5 x 2 x 46

layered or loosely draped throughout the seasons

Few pieces have survived due to their fragile nature

Painted Opera Chest From Shanxi - 19th Century Finish - Black Lacquer This sun bleached 6 doorThis old painted Opera Chest depicts scenes of the traditional Chinese opera. This style of Chinese chest is found exclusively in Shanxi Province in Northern China and dates from the late 19th century. Opera chests, including this one, are constructed from paulownia wood (tong mu ). Paulownia trees were often planted at the birth of a daughter and were considered symbols of prosperity, fertility & marital bliss. Upon reaching maturity the tree would