Painted Opera Chest From Shanxi - 19th Century Scarves these chests travelled across the

these chests travelled across the subcontinent on military campaigns and were expected to endure tough conditions

This antique console table originates from Henan province in central China and dates to the early 19th century

Authentic examples of this calibre are becoming increasingly difficult to find

Many survived on the tall ceilings unlike their European counterparts which were taken down and smashed when electricity arrived

Function: Storage of clothing and textiles

Painted Opera Chest From Shanxi - 19th Century Scarves these chests travelled across theThis old painted Chinese 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