Splendid Kang Cabinet with Golden Landscape Motif
Splendid Kang Cabinet with Golden Landscape Motif
19th Century, Shanxi Province, Northern China
Wood, Lacquer and Gold Leaf. Metal Fittings.
Used to hold precious personal collections, this exceptional and petite cabinet was most likely placed on a kang (a type of ancient platform bed, found in northern China). It exhibits beautiful artwork on the front, top and two sides - a very rare and luxurious feature. In the front is a charming view into an imperial court, where numerous officials with distinctive hats gather. Decorating the top is a scene featuring aristocrats, reflected by the fan and canopy being held to shelter the royal members. On the sides are Chinese poetry and assortments of precious artifacts such as flower-filled vases, stacks of books and scrolls; they are distinctive objects of a scholar's study room. Thick layers of lacquer and rich usage of gold not only helps create a three-dimensional surface, it imparts a vibrant contrast that brings out the life of the images.
Dimensions
Width: 58 cm / 22.75 inches
Depth: 19 cm / 7.5 inches
Height: 63.5 cm / 25 inches