Panel - Hardwood - Vietnam - Inlaid panel (No reserve price)





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Decorative wall panel in hard wood with mother-of-pearl inlay on a black background, depicting a tropical landscape with houses and people, dating circa 1960–1970 and originating from Vietnam; dimensions 60 × 40 cm, depth 1 cm, weight 230 g, in good condition with minor signs of aging and spots.
Description from the seller
My estimate is that the panel comes from Vietnam, possibly from the second half of the 20th century.
There are several clues:
The depiction: the landscape with tropical trees, houses by the water and people in traditional clothing fits with decorative art from Vietnam.
The material: the light, iridescent ornaments resemble pieces of mother-of-pearl embedded in a dark background.
The technique: in Vietnam there is an ancient tradition of mother-of-pearl inlay in wood, known as khảm trai.
The black background: it provides a strong contrast with the mother-of-pearl and the reddish-brown accents.
Vietnamese craft villages, such as Chuyên Mỹ near Hanoi, are known for their traditional mother-of-pearl inlay.
Note: based on the photos alone I cannot determine the country of origin with certainty. China and other Asian countries also have similar techniques.
The panel appears to consist of a wooden support with a black lacquered finish.
The decoration is likely made up of:
Mother-of-pearl: the whitish, glossy parts of the trees, houses, figures and plants.
Black lacquer or a dark finish: the background on which the scene is visible.
Reddish-brown accents: possibly lacquer, paint or another decorative finish.
In traditional mother-of-pearl inlay, small shell pieces are carefully cut and set into a wooden surface. This is a labor-intensive artisanal craft.
The photos show a detailed depiction, but I cannot say with certainty whether all parts are inlaid by hand.
Possible period: circa 1960–1990.
Origin: probably Vietnam.
Type: decorative wall panel with mother-of-pearl inlay.
My estimate is that the panel comes from Vietnam, possibly from the second half of the 20th century.
There are several clues:
The depiction: the landscape with tropical trees, houses by the water and people in traditional clothing fits with decorative art from Vietnam.
The material: the light, iridescent ornaments resemble pieces of mother-of-pearl embedded in a dark background.
The technique: in Vietnam there is an ancient tradition of mother-of-pearl inlay in wood, known as khảm trai.
The black background: it provides a strong contrast with the mother-of-pearl and the reddish-brown accents.
Vietnamese craft villages, such as Chuyên Mỹ near Hanoi, are known for their traditional mother-of-pearl inlay.
Note: based on the photos alone I cannot determine the country of origin with certainty. China and other Asian countries also have similar techniques.
The panel appears to consist of a wooden support with a black lacquered finish.
The decoration is likely made up of:
Mother-of-pearl: the whitish, glossy parts of the trees, houses, figures and plants.
Black lacquer or a dark finish: the background on which the scene is visible.
Reddish-brown accents: possibly lacquer, paint or another decorative finish.
In traditional mother-of-pearl inlay, small shell pieces are carefully cut and set into a wooden surface. This is a labor-intensive artisanal craft.
The photos show a detailed depiction, but I cannot say with certainty whether all parts are inlaid by hand.
Possible period: circa 1960–1990.
Origin: probably Vietnam.
Type: decorative wall panel with mother-of-pearl inlay.

