Painted Black Qinghai Trunk framed They would have been designed

They would have been designed as internal window screens

Low-level furniture like this was commonly used for storing items and for preparing or serving meals for families sitting or kneeling directly on the kang

There is a removable shelf inside each section and three good sized drawers for storage

are decorated by hand with gold leaf and paintings of dancing butterflies

Painted Black Qinghai Trunk framed They would have been designedQinghai, circa 1930 This lovely pine storage chest is from Qinghai province in northwest China, in its original black lacquer and still with the old paintings of flowers and vases. It is of a type sometimes referred to as an opera trunk as the fronts of these chests were often decorated with scenes from Chinese opera as well as flowers. In this case the design showcases delicate water lilies along with peonies and other flora. At each side of the main