Camphorwood chest - Travel trunk

Great Chinese export camphorwood chest, unusual stepped multi-level top, richly carved in high relief with figurative scenes, landscapes, architecture and vegetation, Southern China / possibly Macau, circa 1920–1930.

Origin: China, likely Southern China export production
Most specific possible origin: Hong Kong or Macau
Era: first half of the 20th century
Dating: circa 1920–1940, probably circa 1920–1930
Style/Context: Chinese Export / Art Deco period, with traditional Chinese decoration
Material: camphorwood, with darkened/lacquered areas and relief carving; brass or copper alloy hardware
Dimensions: 62 × 110 × 53 cm

Great Chinese export chest, carved in camphorwood, with a rectangular body set on four low feet, the entire exterior surface richly decorated with high and low relief carved panels.

The front is architecturally organized into three large figurative reserves, separated by wide vertical bands of darkened wood. The central panel, the largest, presents a complex Oriental genre scene with numerous figures dressed in traditional clothing, set within a lush landscape of trees, rocks, vegetation and buildings of traditional architecture.

The side panels extend the decorative narrative through figures, pavilions, trees and landscape elements, creating a continuous composition of strong visual density.

In the center lies a large ornamental hardware piece with lobed outline, in patinated metal, functioning as the chest’s lock.

Carving: The decorative quality is above average for camphorwood chests of simpler design.

Highlights:
- human figures in various poses;
- Oriental architecture with roofs and pavilions;
- bamboo and trees;
- rocks and vegetation;
- water and landscape motifs;
- pavements and geometric elements;
- vegetal enclosures.

The reliefs are worked on several planes, producing a almost three-dimensional effect.

On the top, the decoration continues across several large figurative panels, separated by smooth darkened and stepped strips, a very characteristic element of export production in the 1920s–30s, when traditional Chinese forms were combined with a more geometric presentation approaching the Art Deco taste.

Chest circa 1920 of this typology are effectively marketed internationally as Chinese Export / Art Deco carved camphorwood chests.

Sides and base:

The sides and rear are also decorated, which is commercially important: many more common examples have carvings only on the front and the lid.

The base is bounded by a broad decorative frieze, carved, and sits on four small square feet, also decorated.

There is noted and visible damage to one of the feet, which should be expressly noted in the condition report.

Interior:

The interior contrast with the exterior is very interesting.
The interior preserves the light wood and is practically unfinished, clearly showing the structure and the grain of camphorwood. This wood was particularly used in this type of chest for its fragrance and natural insect-repelling properties, making it very suitable for storing silks, wool, clothing and other textiles. Catawiki itself describes these chests as especially popular between the 1920s and 1950s for this reason.

Inside the lid one can see:
- construction of several wooden panels;
- partially removed old labels;
- later inscriptions;
- the aforementioned ink stamp.

Condition:
In generally good condition considering almost a century of age, but with evident signs of use. Damage to one of the four feet. The overall structure of the chest and lid is solid."