Storage trunk - Wood - China - Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)

Antique Chinese Carved Export Chest – Dragon, Phoenix & Landscape Decoration

19th-century Chinese carved export chest, reportedly commissioned for a wealthy Indonesian family who later moved to Como, Italy.
A striking large antique Chinese wooden storage chest, extensively decorated with exceptionally rich and deeply carved relief work.

The hinged lid is centred by a finely carved Chinese dragon, surrounded by ornamental borders with floral and scrolling motifs. The exterior is profusely carved with a lively narrative scene incorporating dragons, phoenix-like birds, figures, traditional buildings, boats, waves and mountainous/landscape elements. The lower section is further decorated with scrolling foliage and stylised auspicious motifs, raised on carved bracket feet.

The chest has a substantial rectangular construction with a spacious, plain wooden interior. The overall decorative scheme combines traditional Chinese auspicious imagery with the exuberant character often associated with Chinese furniture produced for Southeast Asian markets.

According to the family provenance, the chest was made in China for a wealthy Indonesian family and has remained associated with the family for generations. The family tradition dates the piece to approximately 300 years ago. While this provenance is historically plausible, the precise date cannot be established from the available evidence alone.

The chest was made from carved hardwood, possibly camphor or another Southeast Asian tropical hardwood.

Period: 19th century, possibly earlier
Style: Chinese export / Chinese-Indonesian decorative furniture
Condition: very good aged condition with surface wear, old marks and signs of use consistent with age; the natural wood cracks could be seen on the hinged lid; the lid handle is missing.