Painted Opera Chest From Shanxi - 19th Century Origin - Persia 84 x 48 x 105

84 x 48  x 105 (wxdxh cms)

top and bottom

Made from pliable poplar wood

Features: Intricately carved apron

with wear and patina consistent with age and use

Painted Opera Chest From Shanxi - 19th Century Origin - Persia 84 x 48 x 105This old painted Opera Chest depicts traditional Chinese scenes of birds amongst flowers, flanked by windowed scenes of opera actors wearing traditional Chinese garb. 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 be crafted into furniture and given