Painted Opera Chest From Shanxi Province - 19th Century Period - Early 19th Century 5 x D4 x H15

5 x D4 x H15

Constructed from thick elm planks with hand-cut dovetail joints

Its softened surfaces and traces of handling suggest long

usually in an outhouse

and a resplendent bustard (a more unusual design)

Painted Opera Chest From Shanxi Province - 19th Century Period - Early 19th Century 5 x D4 x H15This 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 be