A hardstone inlaid huanghuali portable chest Guanpixiang, late…
click the photo to enlarge
A hardstone inlaid Huanghuali portable chest Guanpixiang, late Qing Dynasty, of square form, the flat-topped hinged cover with 'ruyi' head metal fittings lifting to reveal a shallow compartment above a pair of panelled doors flush within mitred frames opening to reveal two pairs of short drawers above a long drawer with 'ruyi' shaped pulls, the sides set with bail handles and one side with two small additional circular plates with a chain joining the cover and side, the cover inlaid with a bird on a fruiting pomegranate tree and 'lingzhi' fungus in varying colours of hardstone including lapis-lazuli, malachite, Mother-of-pearl, soapstone and jasper, the front and base inlaid with pairs of dragons and the doors with boys at play, the cover with two inscribed ivory plaques one with a four-character Yongzheng seal mark, 31 cm high, 31 cm wide, 22 cm deep

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.

Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item

When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

This item has been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.
  • Ming Dynasty - The Ming Dynasty was a ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644. It succeeded the Yuan Dynasty and preceded the Qing Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty was established by Zhu Yuanzhang, a former Buddhist monk who became a rebel leader and eventually overthrew the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty, China experienced a period of relative stability and prosperity. The government was centralized and bureaucratic, with the emperor at the top of the hierarchy. The Ming Dynasty is known for its cultural achievements, including the development of porcelain, the invention of movable type printing, and the construction of the Great Wall of China.

  • Qing Dynasty - The Qing Dynasty was the last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912. It was established by the Manchu people, who originated from the northeastern region of China. The Qing Dynasty was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China.
  • Huanghuali Wood - Huanghuali is the most sought-after timber used in the construction of Chinese furniture because of its fine colour and grain.

    During Ming and early Qing dynasties, most of the best furniture was made from huanghuali wood.

    It is a member of the rosewood family and over time the surface mellows to a yellowish brown tone with the exposure to light.

    In recent years, furniture made from huanghuali wood has increased exponentially in value.
  • Hardstone - Hardstone is not a scientific name for a particular gemstone, but a word used to describe any one or more semi-precious stones used in jewellery and decorative arts, and can include jade, agate, onyx, rock crystal, amber, jet and carnelian. Softer stones and minerals such as soapstone, and alabaster and hard stones used in building such as marble or granite are generally excluded.
  • Malachite - Malachite is bright copper-green coloured stone with concentric layers which displays distinct contrasting veinings. It has been valued in the past for making or decorating small precious objects such as clocks, jewellery, dishes and so. In the Orient it was used for snuff bottles and in Russia and was favoured by the Faberge workshop. larger pieces were used for table tops.

    The principal source of supply was Russia but it is to be found in other regions such as Southern Africa, Mexico, Australia and France.

    Malachite glass is a manufactured material that was intended to resemble malachite, but often bears more resemblance to a veined coloured marble due to its lower gloss finish and lack of concentric layers. Malachite glass was manufactured by many glassworks in the 19th century including Loetz in Austria and others in Bohemia and Davidson's Greener's and Sowerby in north eastern England.

    It was particularly used for scent bottles, bowls, and small vases often decorated with nymphs.

    Malachite glass has been manufactured continuously since the late nineteenth century, most is unmarked and it is difficult to distinguish the age or manufacturer of most commercial pieces.
  • Ivory - Ivory is a hard white material that comes from the tusks of elephants, mammoth, walrus and boar, or from the teeth of hippopotamus and whales. The ivory from the African elephant is the most prized source of ivory. Although the mammoth is extinct, tusks are still being unearthed in Russia and offered for sale.

    Ivory has been used since the earliest times as a material for sculpture of small items, both in Europe and the east, principally China and Japan.

    In Asia ivory has been carved for netsuke, seals, okimono, card cases, fan supports, animals and other figures and even as carved tusks.

    In the last 200 years in Europe ivory has been used to carve figures, for elaborate tankards, snuff boxes, cane handles, embroidery and sewing accessories, in jewellery and as inlay on furniture. Its more practical uses include being used for billiard balls, buttons, and a veneers on the top of piano keys.

    The use and trade of elephant ivory have become controversial because they have contributed to Due to the decline in elephant populations because of the trade in ivory, the Asian elephant was placed on Appendix One of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), in 1975, and in January 1990, the African elephant was similarly listed. Under Appendix One, international trade in Asian or African elephant ivory between member countries is forbidden. Unlike trade in elephant tusks, trade in mammoth tusks is legal.

    Since the invention of plastics, there have been many attempts to create an artificial ivory
  • Mother-Of-Pearl - Mother-of-pearl, technical name "nacre", is the inner layer of a sea shell. The iridescent colours and strength of this material were widely used in the nineteenth century as an inlay in jewellery, furniture, (especially papier mache furniture) and musical instruments.

    In the early 1900s it was used to make pearl buttons. Mother-of-pearl is a soft material that is easily cut or engraved.

    Nowadays it is a by-product of the oyster, freshwater pearl mussel and abalone industries.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Visually similar items

A hardstone inlaid hardwood portable chest, Guanpixiang, the domed cover with ruyi -head metal fittings, above a pair of doors opening to reveal two pairs of short and one long drawer, the sides set with bail handles and a chain joining the cover and side,

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A hardstone inlaid hongmu table cabinet, Guanpixiang, the hinged gabled cover lifting to reveal a shallow compartment above two pairs of short and one long drawer, the sides with bail handles and a chain on one side joining the cover and side, the cover de

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A carved huanghuali portable table cabinet, Guanpixiang Qing dynasty, the hinged canted cover lifting to reveal a shallow compartment over a pair of panelled doors, each carved in relief with a stylised flower spray of a single bloom with leafy scrollwork

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A hardstone inlaid hardwood portable chest Guanpixiang, 19th/20th century of rectangular form, the hinged domed cover with ruyi head metal fitting lifting to reveal a shallow compartment, above a pair of panelled doors flush within mitred frames opening to

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.