Description

This wooden, Shrine Cabinet was designed and constructed by the native folk of Shanxi Province, the People’s Republic of China. The process of designing and preserving the form of such pieces requires a deep knowledge of craft as transmitted via oral tradition over centuries. While most coffers have hidden compartments, this piece combines coffer designs with ample storage and an open, interior cavity with several drawers. Along either side, the water dragon ascends into the blossom tree. Because of the uniqueness of these pierced carvings, this cover might have been commissioned for a prominent family.