Description
About
This chest is a small bridal or personal jewellery coffer (xiaoxiang 小箱) from the late Qing Dynasty to the early Republic period (c. 1880–1920). It reveals a more personal, feminine, and narrative-driven purpose.
The front of the antique chest features hand-painted or stencilled floral motifs in gold/yellow on a red background. Interestingly, these are not just Chinese paintings or symbols—the swirling vine patterns on both sides of the chest are Western-style decorations, likely from the European Victorian or folk art tradition, indicating that the chest was originally made for a lady with a Western influence.
- Flowers Visible on the Chest:
1. Birds with long tails (possibly a pheasant or phoenix-like bird) – Chinese interpretation: 锦鸡 (jǐnjī) – Golden Pheasant, or 凤凰 (fènghuáng) – Phoenix
Meaning:
• Golden Pheasant: beauty, good fortune, high rank
• Phoenix (if stylised): virtue, grace, prosperity, peace, union of yin and yang
• Often paired with peonies = “wealth and honor” (富贵 fùguì)
2. Peony flowers (centre-left, large bloom) – Chinese name: 牡丹 (mǔdān) – Peony
Meaning:
• “King of Flowers” – symbolises wealth, honour, prosperity, and high status
• Represents feminine beauty, spring, and good fortune
• Very common in Chinese art as a wish for ** riches and nobility**
3. Lotus flowers (centre-right) – Chinese name: 莲花 (liánhuā) – Lotus
Meaning:
• Purity, enlightenment, rising above worldly desires
• “Out of mud but unstained” – moral integrity
• Often symbolises Buddhist purity and summer
4. Butterfly (low-right) – Chinese name: 蝴蝶 (húdié)
Meaning:
• Love, joy, marital happiness
• Transformation and freedom
• Famous legend: “Butterfly Lovers” (梁祝) – symbol of eternal love
5. Dragonfly (upper left) – Chinese name: 蜻蜓 (qīngtíng)
Meaning:
• lightness, freedom, grace)
• (good news in love) — dragonflies often appear in pairs
• (summer blessing)
• 点水成龙 (qīngtíng diǎn shuǐ) — poetic phrase for turning water into a dragon
This border is Western stencil work, but in Chinese symbolism, vines = eternal fortune — making the whole chest a hidden prosperity charm!
Country of Origin
c.1890 Shanghai, China
Dimensions
Width 75cm x Depth 29cm x Height 32cm
Materials
Solid wood
Care Instructions
Clean with a soft cloth
Keep away from heat sources or direct sunlight
Delivery Details
You are always welcome to come to pick the goods up at our store or our warehouse in Bristol, free charge
Goods will usually be dispatched within 3 working days after the payment has been received
Delivery Cost within mainland UK- £30.00
Due to the size and weight of this item, it is dispatched using the bespoke furniture courier service delivered on a mutually convenient day.
We deliver our goods internationally. Please email us at info@nookdeco.co.uk with your enquiries.
