Intricately Carved Hongmu Display Cabinet, circa 1900, Dragon Motif
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A profusely carved hongmu display cabinet, circa 1900, of rectangular form, the intricately carved multi-tiered cabinet fitted with a combination of shelves above a single small cupboard to one side, with openwork carved borders of flowering prunus, and dragon entwined corner supports, the sides carved with fruiting gourd and pomegranate repeated on the openwork back interspersed with bamboo, surmounted by an arched openwork frieze decorated with dragons, the wood with dark patina, 210 cm high, 110 cm wide, 38 cm deep
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- Frieze - An architectural term denoting the flat, shaped or convex horizontal surface of furniture, between the architrave and the cornice, usually found on a cabinet or bookcase, or on desks and tables where it may include drawers, the area between the top and the legs. In ceramics, the term refers to the banding, of usually a repeating pattern, on the rims of plates and vases.
- Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
- Patination / Patina - In broad terms, patination refers to the exterior surface appearance of the timber, the effect of fading caused by exposure to sunlight and air over the course of a century or more, changing the piece to a soft, mellow colour.
As patina is very difficult to replicate, it is one of the most important guides to determining the age of furniture.
Patina is also the term applied to the bloom or film found on old bronzes due to oxidisation.
This item has been included into following indexes:
- Chinese furniture, chairs - chairs, dragon carved 268
- Chinese furniture, type or function