Painted Opera Chest From Shanxi Province - 19th Century Period - Early 19th Century prosperity

prosperity

Constructed from thick elm planks with hand-cut dovetail joints

usually in an outhouse

231 x 51 x 84 cms

5 x D4 x H15

Painted Opera Chest From Shanxi Province - 19th Century Period - Early 19th Century prosperityThis 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