Fine Chinese Scholar’s Fretwork Elm Display Shelving Unit Bookshelf Bookcase MCM
A breathtakingly gorgeous and rare freestanding Chinese fretwork Scholar’s display shelving unit in lovely condition. Made in China, most likely in the Mid 20th Century, this beautiful and highly decorative display unit will add wonderful colour, quality, charm and sophistication to any interior.
Freestanding display shelving units such as this have been used by Chinese nobility and scholars for many centuries to display precious articles, ornaments and books. This one is made from gorgeously honey-toned Chinese elm wood using traditional mitred joinery and was most likely made for the export market around the 1950s.
This fabulous and sturdy display unit presents a stunning linear silhouette and features three large open shelves with ample height for large objects or plants. Each shelf has breathtaking and wonderfully ornate lattice fretwork balustrades on three sides with conjoined circle adornments, symbolising yin and yang aspects of Taoism.
It has two highly decorative decent-sized drawers with finely detailed bas-relief dragon carvings and brass pulls. Below the bottom shelf are very decorative three-sided carved aprons, while the back panelling is of such quality that it can also be appreciated from behind, and so positioned in the middle of a room, where these display units would have been found centuries ago.
All in all this is a fabulous, extremely impressive and rare display unit. A fine example of bygone Chinese craftsmanship, it will add beautiful colouring, quality and oriental grandeur to any setting.
CONDITION
This is in very good condition. Made of Chinese elm wood, it is robust, structurally sound and sturdy. The only minor flaws are the to-be-expected minor knocks and marks, mainly to the corners, and a missing conjoined circle to the lower shelf, only really noticeable once mentioned. Overall it’s a fantastic piece in wonderful condition and if well looked after it should remain so for many decades if not centuries to come – please see the photos.
MEASUREMENTS
Height - 172cm, Width - 92cm, Depth - 40cm, Shelves - 87cm x 37.5cm, Shelf Space Height - 39cm, Weight - 20.5kg.
DELIVERY
The UK mainland delivery price is quoted, or contact us to collect from Warwick UK. FOR OVERSEAS & INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY QUOTES please contact us with your postcode/zipcode - the current international delivery quote is just a place-holder.
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